I love a good self-mythologizer. Heck, if you read this blog, you might argue that I am one.
But when the impulse to craft one’s own story starts sounding like a none-too-stealthy marketing campaign — and a slightly ridiculous one at that – I can’t help but call shenanigans.
Today I’m calling out Christo’s, Salem’s generally awesome, family-owned pizza restaurant, which opened at a new location on Broadway earlier this year.
Now, Christo’s pizza is arguably Salem’s best. The hand-thrown crust is crisp, the sauce rocks, and I’m pretty sure I saw a couple at a table next to us last night eating a pizza that could have been baked in a joint on the trash-strewn streets of Naples.
Also, the place employs a completely brilliant performer and voice coach who moonlights as a server there and who is inclined to break out into Verdi’s “La Donna è mobile,” filling the place with song and shaking everyone out of their rainy-night duldrums. (Watch that video and then try not to think of Stella d’Oro bread sticks…).
But flip over the menu and you might find something curious. A map of sorts. A message indeed. A little graphic that shows an Italian boot placed smack over Salem’s newest revitalized neighborhood and calling that ‘hood “Salem’s Little Italy.”
Now, we’ve all wondered about the name of this new neighborhood before. And I’ve tipped my hat towards something more original than the “Broadway District,” or anything else that borrows mythologies from other cities.
But “Little Italy” poses an exceptional problem, not least because Christo’s isn’t really a neighborhood filled will Italian immigrants. Does one restaurant a diminutive country make?
If that’s acceptable, than may I also propose the following.
Salem’s Chinatown: The block occupied by Kwan’s.
Salem’s Russian Village: That store tucked into the Northeast Lancaster Drive strip mall that claims to be a European gift store but whose pickles and tea suggest an audience of Russian immigrants.
Salem’s Japantown: That cafeteria at Willamette where Japanese students from the Tokyo University hang out.
Salem’s Czech Village: the Kafkaesque corridors of the City Police station.
The French Quarter: The span of road between La Capitale and Napoleon’s. Alternately: The parking lot housing the French Press and Bakery L’Amour.
What others are there?
I have this idea that for a city to achieve greatness in character it has to create its own stories, not borrow them.
Amen, sista! I have been trying to tell people around here for years that you just have to embrace your Salemness and not try to be something else. It just comes off as pretentious or perhaps even…stupid? Come on people, revel in being from Salem, Oregon and just go with it.
On the flip side, most things have been done before and there are very few ideas that haven’t been done in some city somewhere. But at least it needs to feel right for Salem.
We went to Christos for the first time since they moved last night and were also surprised by their “Little Italy” comment. We wondered if they meant their current location or their old location. But either way, we had the same conversation about Little Italy having a one building radius. But, the pizza was delicious as usual.
Perhaps the Little Italy moniker is an invitation for the Little Cannoli Bakery to open a food cart outside of the Space. Probably not an idea with wings, but I would certainly drive by more often.
How about out on hwy 22 where they’re building the Sanyo solar plant. that could be the “Green Zone.”
My two favorite Vietnamese restaurants in Salem are 1) Kim Huong on Silverton, and 2) Super Pho just south of Market on Lancaster. Maybe they represent two neighborhood districts that we can call North and South Vietnam?
Are you sure Japan town couldn’t also be the tiny strip mall in the previously GI Joe’s parking lot where Raman Ichiban is?
I laughed at the menu quote at Christo’s too. Maybe that was the point, at least I hope it was just a joke. Your Kwan’s revelation is priceless, btw. I think I’m going to use that when I’m driving with out of towner’s. “Oh! You just missed China Town! Remember that ARCO a second ago? It was the same block, really, I swear!”
Drake demands credit for Chinatown.
Don’t forget the Eastern European bakery and grocery store on S Commercial, a real trip to Europe can be had strolling the aisles.
Ha ha, my former self just cringed. Someone once wrote a story for the Des Moines Register about “visiting Europe” in Iowa. As in, she went to Moscow, IA, Paris, IA and Berlin, IA.
along those same lines, I often wonder while I’m in Las Vegas if tourists actually think Paris, Venice and Bellagio are like their hotel namesakes… ugh!
And maybe we can just call Lancaster ‘the American corridor’?
This entry made me laugh so hard, Emily.
How about the “Avenue of the Americas”?
so I was walking to Venti’s the other day when I came across a green bike rack with the outline of Italy in the middle of it!! (similar to the bike rack in front of the governor’s cup in the shape of a coffee mug). As you and i both know this is nowhere near Christo’s. Now more than ever, I am questioning whether Christo’s is really in the heart of little Italy.
At least I still know Kwan’s is the chinatown of salem.
Great, Drake, now I am REALLY confused…
[...] the hotel, on the train or in the car on the way back. Needless to say, Salem’s so-called “Little Italy” doesn’t have an authentic Italian [...]
Salem’s Japantown: That cafeteria at Willamette where Japanese students from the Tokyo University hang out.
O.o never heard of it called that before.