Cheesecake factory-or, even dessert is reason to fight~- Page 4

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:22am

This thread is more depressing than the ones that sing the praises of theme parks or cruises.

[Luscious]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:35am

C'mon Namo... you know you want it!

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 7:17am

Ok, maybe this a really stupid question but I'll have to ask ! Since CF has so many restaurants around the States, how come they haven't opened one in Manhattan ?? I am sure it would do great, since it is such a well known brand name ! I am really surprised !

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 9:22am

"This thread is more depressing than the ones that sing the praises of theme parks or cruises."

Aw, poor Namo-depressed by a cheesecake thread. Go to some thread about politics and cheer up!

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 9:24am

Greek-Manhattan seems to be the last place to receive chain stores, restaurants, products, etc. Give it time-look how long it took for us to get Kmart, Home Depot, Olive Garden, etc.

[RachLaura]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 11:52am

The only cheesecake I ever got from The Cheesecake Factory was oreo cheesecake when I was 10 years old. I still haven't forgotten how amazing it tasted.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 11:58am

Could we possibly take a break for half a minute and point out that one of the things that is slowly choking the life out of Manhattan, draining the Manhattan-ness right out of it, is the encroaching chain stores that are making the island like every stupid mall in the country?

Jane suggests that people "Give it time?" I suggest people try to stop it. It's not like you won't have about a billion chances to go to a friggin Cheesecake Factory anytime you go anyplace with a mall.

And believe me, the eradication of the unique and crazy businesses that used to help give Manhattan its flavor is political.

And seriously, could anybody really say "look how long it took us to get the [***king: obscenity mine] Olive Garden" when a short stroll down Restaurant Row will bring diners to the equally touristy but NON-chain invaded places there?

I'm just really surprised and disappointed that The Canned American Experience is so often celebrated.

Updated On: 4/22/06 at 11:58 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 12:25pm

Well said, Namo. My own unexpressed sentiments.

The fact that some individuals actually find this chain-food appetizing is depressing.

Forget Bush and the Republicans, or the Democrats for that matter.

It would not surprise me if America's ultimate downfall is the Americans' obsession to slowly eat themselves to death by ingesting copious amounts of bad food.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:17pm

I've eaten there a couple times, and it was good. The weird thing is knowing that the exact same meals were being served all across the country, from mall to deadening mall. This isn't, to me, something to celebrate or wish for.

And as much as I like eating, and as much as I like food, even pre-Morgan Spurlock when they placed the platters in front of us all I could think was "This is problematic. And wasteful." I know half of the "thing" at Cheesecake Factory is that they bring your wheelbarrow of food over and you're supposed to exclaim "Oh my GOD, look at all this FOOD," and everybody says "Oh, I'll bring the leftovers and get two MORE meals out of this." But it doesn't explain why, when they see you've finished a third of your soft drink, they come over and drop another one in front of you. And they're MINIMALLY 20 oz glasses. I usually let myself have about one soda a week, and I kept thinking, "Okay, WHAT is their investment in sending people out in the world after serving them a 7000 calorie meal?"

Updated On: 4/22/06 at 01:17 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:22pm

Is it surprising Namo and Jose have to be negative?

[etoile]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:45pm

One person's negative is another person's refreshing eye-opening take on things.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 1:51pm

Refreshing? Eye-opening?

Well, then. I apologize.

Sorry, Namo. Thanks for the revelation. I NEVER would have known that people all over are eating the same meal as I am at another generic Cheesecake Factory! Phew. Now I can sleep soundly.

P.S. Who knew the Cheesecake Factory had a simple ploy to get the world fat? I guess with the word "cheesecake" in the name of the restaurant you would expect to lose weight there. Someone call the lawyer of the person who sued McDonald's! And quick!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:04pm

Yes, yes, yes. I get it. You're just going to dismiss any attempt at articulating my thoughts, but at least I have thoughts. What have you done lately, Bso?

And fine. If people like FACTORIES and ASSEMBLY LINE FOOD, more power to them. God forbid I should mention the American problem of portion control.

But one thing that really shouldn't be left uncommented upon (although it did by you Bso) is the Mallification of Manhattan.

[Luscious]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:09pm

My, Namo... such a fuss you're making. Step down off your soapbox for a minute and have fu@%in' piece of cheesecake, Goddamn it!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:13pm

Oh right. I forgot Luscious was involved, ergo, this is a certified Idea-Free Zone.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:19pm

The so-called Mallification has been happening long before you were born Namo...

It's a place of change.

I can only imagine a little Namo of over hundred years ago saying "Empire State Building! Why? There goes 34th Street!"

What have I done lately?

Well, I have not been complaining.

[Luscious]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:23pm

Namo... you're bringing me down, man.

This thread is not about you. It's about one thing and one thing only...

Updated On: 4/22/06 at 02:23 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:28pm

First off all, there weren't malls before I was born and the Empire State Building could hardly be considered part of that concept anyway. Now try thinking, it's not that hard.

Second of all, why is it that people who can't have a discussion of larger cultural context issues think those of us who would like to are automatically "negative?"

It's sad to me that people would wish and hope for further erosion of that which made Manhattan what it is. Progress is progress, yes, Bso, but the evolution of NYC to being just like every other godforsaken mall in this cookie cutter country is something that has completely accelerated in the last 16 years. And the problem is, once the majority of things that made a place specific to its location and region are replaced by big box stores and chain restaurants, you never get the unique flavor back.

If that's a good thing to you after all the deep thinking you've clearly done on the topic, terrific.


ETA Luscious, any chance you could un-f**k-up the margins of this entire page by using the link window that couldn't be more conveniently placed in the message window rather than what you have done? Thanking you in advance.

Updated On: 4/22/06 at 02:28 PM

[Luscious]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:31pm

Oh Namo... just go away. You're a big bore.

[Luscious]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:34pm

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:34pm

He said, after taking my advice. Funny how that works, isn't it?

[Luscious]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:35pm

[Luscious]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:36pm

[Luscious]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:38pm

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:39pm

Well there is another intelligent response from Luscious!
This is a huge problem here in Chicago, too. Not the Cheesecake Factory, per se, but the loss of the neighborhoods by gentrification. Blocks of old buildings that give each neighborhood it's distinct character being leveled for the new Borders and Starbucks. I don't know why everyone is so sad there is no Cheesecake Factory in Manhattan. If there were you would have NO reason to go to Westbury. And weren't there just a few old places in Manhattan that closed their doors recently, much to everyone's chagrin? I say keep this **** away for as long as possible...it's only cheesecake, for God's sake, and as Namo said, once the character is gone from a hood it will never be back.