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Cheesecake Factory

December 13, 2009 at 6:03 pm · Filed under Personal Enjoyment

Wild Blueberry White Chocolate and Adam's Peanut Butter

4400 Sharon Road
Charlotte, NC 28211-3606
(704) 770-0076

The Cheesecake Factory menu features more than 200 menu selections made fresh from scratch each day – using only the highest quality ingredients – which combines to create our remarkable tastes.

I recently visited the Cheesecake Factory for the first time, somewhere I’ve been meaning to go to for years… I love cheesecake! Here’s what I thought:

Location: In the heart of Charlotte off of Tyvola Road (Exit 5 on I-77) in the Southpark district, connected to the Southpark Mall near the Crate and Barrel. This provides a chance to get in a good walk through stores before or after the meal… I highly suggest it afterwards, because without fail, you will be extremely full. It sits next to a large parking garage, so finding a place to park isn’t such a hassle, although I short walk will usually be involved. The building itself is enormous and elaborately decorated, with high ceilings, columns, and a golden interior that would awe almost anyone.

Food: This menu is a little bit of every simple pleasure you ever wanted to put in your mouth… But watch your portions. If you go before 5pm, I suggest ordering a lunch portion, because as they will tell you, the portions are very large. When my lunch plate came, I thought it looked smaller than I was expecting from their description of sizes, and I almost wished that I had ordered the normal portion, but to my surprise, I couldn’t even finish it, and still had cheesecake to go! As far as taste, it was rich and delicious. Cheesecake Factory is not just for dessert… Although I’d gladly go there for just that. :)

Service: The waiter that we had was very nice, and shared his favorite dessert, as well as those of others. I was glad he shared portion sizes with us prior to ordering, as not all restaurants will allow; it showed that they were there for the customer and what they feel they are looking for from their Cheesecake Factory experience. He was also very willing to help me choose between the two cheesecake types I was torn between, and I thought his answer was a smart assessment… The only part that threw me off a bit was that all waiters/waitresses are expected to dress in all white. As we know, plumbers pants are about the only white pants easy and cheap to find, so yes, I felt like a plumber was serving me food. White also gets dirty, and since I want to enjoy a clean experience, white was not a good choice, in my opinion, because each had food splashed up their sleeves. And the white shoes, mainly sketchers work, were obviously distracting to me as I ate… I think Cheesecake Factory might want to work on this selection. Tisk tisk.

Price: As warned, the prices are a bit high. It’s not going to be a spot in for a bite to eat, but more of an experience, so expect to pay that way. Lunches are at least $10 a person, drink and tip not included. Dinners are more on a $15-$20 range, drink and tip not included. Cheesecake slices are about $6-$7 a slice, but well worth the money. I did not see a cheesecake platter/smapler option, which I was eager to purchase, but this is not to say that it doesn’t exist… Please let me know if anyone knows of one and a bit of specifics about it. Overall, I do suggest that, as stated, you go before 5pm if you are not someone that can eat a giant’s amount of food, but if you don’t mind a to-go box, the choices, you’ll find, are infinite… And will delight you infinitely!

Conclusion: I can’t wait to go again! I think that next time, although the food was WONDERFUL, I might opt to go for just a slice or two of cheesecake, since it was the very best part of the meal. It is rightly named, and is everything it is made out to be. It would be an excellent place to take a date, or to celebrate a holiday. Absolutely beautiful from start to finish. I HIGHLY recommend it!

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Surely Even Paula Deen Can Use Margarine, Right?

December 10, 2009 at 8:19 pm · Filed under Social Response

Sallie Geer: Winthrop Nutrition Major, Class of 2010

Today’s post comes from my sister, Sallie Geer, who is currently studying Nutrition at Winthrop University. She recently wrote a paper for a class she’s taking this semester, and I thought that it was a subject that we can all relate to around the holiday season… I mean, we did just stuff ourselves to look sillier than the turkey itself, royally place in the center of the table like a shrine to meat. Now, Christmas is just weeks away, and, knowing the American public… the same thing will occur all over again, but with a possible substitution in meat type, and maybe a change in a side or two. As long as there is egg nog! (Side note: I’ve never had egg nog to my knowledge, it just sounds like a very Christmas-like thing to pick).

The proposal: Choose healthier alternatives, without, of course, neglecting the deliciousness of holiday luxuries. And although, here in the South at least, Paula Deen is favorite pick for recipe ideas, let us all bear in mind that her nickname is the Butter Queen. I think I just clogged one of my arteries typing that sentence… So here’s a bit of Sallie’s proposal:

Becoming health-wise and leading a healthy lifestyle consists of many different methods, each depending on the individual. Some may believe that exercise is the key to getting in shape, while others scrutinize over nutrition fact labels. One step to obtain a healthier state is to modify meals by eliminating or substituting ingredients…

Modification of these ingredients, in my opinion, would provide the best, most health conscious result, while maintaining the same quality Paula Deen intended…

So, thus, Sallie chose a well-liked Paula Deen recipe for Chicken Divan. Here were her results:

Through cost analysis, I discovered that the difference in price was not drastic after figuring in the few changes that were made, in fact, I found it to come out cheaper. The original recipe cost, per portion , $1.49, with the total cost of recipe amouting to $10.45. The cost of original ingredients was: soup $.26, sour cream $.06, and margarine $.02. On the other hand, the modified recipe had a cost, per portion of $1.49 and total cost of recipe of $10.43. The modified ingredients had a cost of: soup $.26, sour cream $.05, and margarine $.01.

In comparison, after the modification, the calories had a slight decrease from the original, with 589.27 calories modified to 556.94 calories, a decrease of 32.33 calories. The original recipe’s total fat was 36.01g, while the modified had 33.15g, decreasing 2.86g of unnecessary fat. The saturated fat was reduced from 13.62g to 10.94g. There was a slight decrease in cholesterol, with original recipe containing 159.46mg, to modified recipe’s 146.92mg. The biggest difference in the two recipes was the sodium levels, with a decrease from 940.07mg to 656.44mg, a total of 283.86mg of sodium. Finally, there was also the benefit of an increase in dietary fiber from 1.40g to 1.49g.

The results determined that nutrient-wise, there were hardly any changes in making the product healthier and cheaper, although both did occur.; overtime, these changes would amount to be much more significant on a broader range. Through further research, I discovered that there could have been other, better modifications that would have made the dish healthier. Some better modifications for sour cream would have been yogurt or light sour cream. The mayonnaise could have been substituted with calorie-wise miracle whip. The cheese could have been decreased from a 1 cup to ¾ cup or by use of a cheese lower in fat. The ½ cup of bread crumbs could have had an alternative of wheat bread crumbs.

I have found through this recipe modification that if someone cannot lead a healthy lifestyle of exercising, they can take the approach by creating fattening recipes into healthier ones. Through slight changes in ingredients, aspects such as high fat, carbohydrates, sodium, and other unhealthy items can easily be decreased. The way to accomplish this is by simple modification of the product by substituting, reducing, or eliminating ingredients. Although these changes might, at the time, seem insignificant, the changes over time should lead to an overall heathier lifestyle, increasing longevity of life and decreasing harmful bodily side effects.

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Homeless That The Salvation Army Doesn’t Reach To

December 7, 2009 at 11:28 pm · Filed under Social Response

Cami - My Pick

I recently visited the Humane Society of Charlotte, North Carolina, my first trip ever to anywhere with homeless pets in need of care. My current dog, Bailey Asheton, needed to be spayed, and they offer fast turn-around and, my main interest in the humane society, micro-id tagging. These procedures will ensure that Bailey does not add to the over-population of dogs in my area, as well as creates a way to easily track and find her in the future if she ever gets too far from home.

This is Cami. She was my favorite dog at the shelter, and I would love to own her if it were an option. Here’s a bit about her for any that might be interested in taking her home:

Animal ID	9189886
Species	Dog
Breed	Whippet/Shetland Sheepdog
Age	7 months
Sex	Female
Size	Medium
Color	Fawn/White
Declawed	No
Housetrained	Unknown
No Small Kids
Intake Date	11/28/2009
Adoption Price	$95.00

they don’t need much. but they do need you.

Visit the Humane Society of Charlotte’s website at:

http://www.humanesocietyofcharlotte.org/index.php

Humane Society of Charlotte

Address/Phone/Fax
2700 Toomey Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203
(704) 377-0534 – phone
(704) 332-8010 – fax

Hours of Operation
The Humane Society of Charlotte is open everyday from 11am-5pm and is closed to the public on Wednesdays.

Volunteers and donations are always welcomed. Remember:

$25 will feed four hungry kittens for one week.
$50 will supply a warm, comfy bed for dogs in their kennels.
$75 can provide one spay/neuter surgery to prevent more homeless animals.
$100 will make sure four puppies stay healthy by receiving their necessary vaccinations.
$250 will have 30 cats tested to keep feline leukemia and AIDS from making lots of other cats sick.
$500 funds five heartworm tests.
$1500 can provide nutritious food for the Humane Society animals for approximately two months.

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Mac: Becoming the Future of Digital Media

December 3, 2009 at 5:45 pm · Filed under Music and Entertainment, Social Response

Apple Tablet

The Kindle started the trend of tablets. Books became downloadable, and traveling with your favorite reads, easy. The need for a bookstore for you urgent need of material, diminished. But as far as a success, it really wasn’t. Books were too expensive, and Kindle limited itself to books and books alone. And so, technology transgresses.

Another failure, the success of magazines. We find ourselves reading them, mainly for sports, and the occasional recipe or home improvement, but on the full scale of the issue, magazines just aren’t as popular as they were in past years. They find themselves struggling, and thus, the creation of informer magazines, such as the Enquirer, dishing out the scoop on top celebrities, true or not, to gain readers attention and sell their product. It might not be quality, but it’s probably read more often than most other reading material sitting on the checkout shelves of your favorite shopping location.

Magazines are striking for a comeback, in hopes for a relationship with a brand that never seems to fail when it comes to striking out big in the technological market: Apple. Nicknamed the “Tablet of Newspaper Salvation”, print media alike is banking on big results from the February 2010 release of Apple’s Mac Tablet (this name, as well as others, patented or not, have not been released as the official name of the product). Apple has not agreed to this engagement with print media, but the idea is certainly on the rise. What would be the outcome? Sports Illustrated provides a visual of their plan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntyXvLnxyXk&feature=player_embedded#

Apple might just become the primary e-book reader, as well as an effective tool for any number of possibilities with the new device. The downside being that over 88% of survey takers believe that bookstores worldwide will lose out from the growth in digital sales, and this equally means that the success of the product will also decrease the amount of hardback and paperback copy sales that bookstores would receive.

I hope Apple doesn’t accidentally turn into the new Wal-Mart monopoly… But their products truly can be the lead into the future of human capabilities, specifically on the go, in the technology field. Results of integration, such as what this relationship would mean for magazines and Apple, is where we are headed. In turn, though, we are neglecting, and therefore sacrificing, our material history. Basically, our high values of “collectable” items, actual physical remnants of our history. Where the Egyptians left pyramids, the cavemen left stone tools, and the city of Atlantis gave us hopes of dreams of an undiscovered civilization full of treasure and history… We will be leaving screens and buttons, which probably, can’t withstand the test of time. Are we eliminating proof of our existence in an effort to “advance”?

To learn more about Apple’s product release in February 2010, here is a great link that covers the topic from start to finish and even provides the leaked specifications of the device. It’s a beauty.

Release Date: February 2010

Learn more at: http://www.appletablet.net/

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“Aol.” – New Social Identity Released

November 23, 2009 at 8:38 pm · Filed under Marketing, Social Response and tagged: American Online, AOL, brand identity, brand management, lol, Time Warner

"Lol."

AOL is releasing its ties to Time Warner officially on December 10th of 2009, just before the start of the new 2010 year. This is a bold move, and they declare that their advertising strategies and management of the brand are to be just as strong. Several new logos have been released as the proposed new logo of the company, a far cry from those used in years passed. Their company name has even been altered to conform to mainsteam culture, or at least that’s what I’m proposing this is an attempt at. As can be seen from the picture’s caption, many have already compared it’s decision to lowercase the “o” and “l” of the previously written AOL, to that of “Lol.”, a commonly used abbreviation among instant messengers and texters alike. (Remember: AIM is a deviation of the same company, one of the most used instant messengers, and my messenger of choice).

The Positives: To me, releasing from Time Warner is going to be difficult, and given that the brand, in my opinion, is suffering from lack of integration into today’s socially connected environment, and even from viral marketing, seeing as it’s merger did just that and merged the brand, making it no longer a singuarly used brand name, means that the only way this seperation is going to work for for AOL is by extremely strong marketing and brand identity. Without strong integration and brand identity, and spreading this via the social networking chains, AOL will die alone. This is smart on their part to work to redefine themselves, and basically, essential to their existence.

The Negatives: This is a whole new logo, which is always pass or fail with companies. Brand identity is what defines a brand in the mind of the consumer and places their awareness in the appropriate location. To change is to take a huge step outside of the box and hope to swim and not tie a stone to their foot with a crash to the bottom. Changing something so dramatically involves smooth transition and intense marketing strategies. This can’t be something tossed together overnight, but a well-thought out plan of action. Seeing as this is the first that I’ve heard of the break, and the official date is only days away, I’m truly hoping this isn’t as rash as I have the feeling it might be. It definitely says that to the consumer, and makes one doubt the power behind AOL’s management team.

Noted Problems:

1. As mentioned, this resembles “Lol.” – I hope they plan on being more social network oriented if that’s the approach they were going for. Changing tyography styles or manipulating what was pre-existing is drastic. Sometimes, a change in font type or style is necessary more than just an alteration. Be sure this is truly what you want to say about yourself and that you are prepared to have valid backing for why you chose this for your brand. (Read more about this topic at: http://snippetsection.wordpress.com/2009/11/05/the-font-that-changed-50-years-of-ikea-history/

2. Graphically, I’m not so sure that leaving the first letter capitalized is so wise. It looks a bit off. I would have gone with all lowercase if I kept the same style and font type. This is too similar without a real reason behind it. Any marketer knows that switching your letters around a bit isn’t re-branding. If it doesn’t have some serious validity, you end up causing the opposite effect: a lack of respect for the marketing team.

3. The logos chosen (See more at: http://mashable.com/2009/11/23/aol-logos/) don’t seem to have anything to do with the brand. They remind me of signing into my bank account online and having to pick from the random pictures until I see something I like that I feel fits me, or even a different array of random AIM profile icons. AOL is more than instant messaging, and definitely was defined before, now it looks sporadic and jumbled with no real sense of definition. The bottom 3 are the absolute worse, because they aren’t even true objects to me, just squiggles someone drew out. Did they hire preschoolers to liven up the brand a bit with crayon art? I can’t even tell what half of them are, much less why that should speak AOL to me, of Aol. in this case. Strong brand identity and management of a brand calls for one strong, single, unified symbol that should feel, speak, even sound like that of the brand. When you see it, you should recognize it as AOL’s logo and should understand why you relate it as such. These haven’t even hit photoshop yet… I see halftones and pixels!

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50 Impressive Magazine and Newspaper Web Designs

November 23, 2009 at 7:56 pm · Filed under Arts, Marketing

Magazines might still be hanging in there as a form of mass media viable to the American citizen, but newspapers are on a steady decline as technology advances year to year. Both magazines and newspapers have looked to the times and are beginning to embrace this technology as a bandwagon they simply need to jump on to. Being available on the internet is not the only thing to save them, though; it is not a sure-fire way to salvation, only a means of survival. Because of this, some sites are really stepping up to the plate and creating sites that are visually entertaining as well. These are eye-catching, and the designs alone make you want to read and see what the site is honestly all about. Below are a few examples of sites that really make the cut:

See more examples at SpeckyBoy – One awesome design magazine. My suggestion: subscribe to the online newsletter ASAP!

http://speckyboy.com/2009/11/18/50-impressive-magazine-and-newspaper-styled-web-designs/

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Bank of America: Still the Nation’s Banking Choice?

November 21, 2009 at 7:34 pm · Filed under Marketing, Social Response

Bank of America. They changed their name years ago to better reflect what they felt their positioning in the United States among other similar banks, and distinguish themselves above other banks of the area. Actually, it was also due to a 1998 takeover of the North Carolina-based NationsBank. This is when the bank really established their main headquarters in Charlotte, NC where they continue to reside. Anyone from this Charlotte area knows that BofA’s occupation of the city is obvious; Bank of America offices litter the city. Bank of America even posts its name across the home of the Carolina Panthers: Bank of America Stadium. One Bank of America Center, a LEED-certified eco-friendly building, is set to grace downtown Charlotte and is currently under construction. Charlotte is not their only large city presence, though; worldwide they own and operate about 28 different corporate locations.

“Bank of America is one of the largest financial services companies, largest bank by assets, largest commercial bank by deposits and is the second largest by market capitalization in the United States. The company holds 12.2% of all U.S. deposits. Also, Bank of America is the number one underwriter of global high yield debt, the third largest underwriter of global equity and the ninth largest adviser on global mergers and acquisitions.

Bank of America serves clients in more than 150 countries and has a relationship with 99 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 83 percent of the Fortune Global 500.

At one point considered one of the winners and healthiest survivors of the 2007 credit crisis, plunged in market value due in part to massive losses caused by its purchase of Merrill Lynch. Its Q1 2009 profit was 4.2 billion with 3.7 billion having come from Merrill Lynch. As of September 2009, the total value of B of A’sMortgage and Asset Backed Securities is one of the highest in the banking industry at $264 Billion.

Bank of America is one of the Big Four Banks of the United States with Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo.” (Wikipedia)

Despite their enormous sized client base, Bank of America lately seems relentless to stick to making more money this coming year than ever. They pull you in with offers of free money with the opening of a checking account, but what they don’t tell you are about all the fees you’re to be hit with anytime you lose track of your funds. And for those who already possess a Bank of America account, well, you have no promotional offers, you’re exempt of all free money, and you get hit with the same charges as everyone else. Their is always the option of stepping inside of a discussion of options with your nearest banking center, but judging by my past few experiences of the past two years with such moves, you will get nowhere, in fact, you’ll leave more frustrated later on when you realize the agents aren’t even 100% clear on their own rules and policies.

As for the fees, I will credit them on the fact that they are not the only one, Wachovia being just as bad if not worse, but considering BofA received a $20 billion bailout, I really think they could cut their customers a little bit of slack. Instead, they intend on joining in with excessive overdraft fees, one of the first rise in overdraft charges amoung banks during a recession since the late 1980’s, and even still, experts say that the fees are extremely high and excessive. Banks argue that their are warnings and everyone should be aware of their funds before they attempt to use them. Banks even argue that people are WILLING to pay for these overdraft fees… I can’t say I ever have been. By the end of this cycle, banks are currently set to generate about a $38.5 billion profit from overdraft fees alone.

I was always the person speaking up in defense of my bank, telling everyone to switch, and how well I was treated. Since Bank of America’s growth and defense of their funds since the economy hit rock bottom, I have been less than impressed with their performance. I find that tellers are not nearly as friendly as they once were. I remember when they knew you by name and were like walking in to talk to a friend. It now seems as if you inconvenience them each time, and they are only there because it is their job to be. I find they talk more than they care to immediately respond to their customers, and even during transactions, find it necessary to talk about the weather and the new cobbler they just read about in a magazine… And the results:

1. I went into the bank with a deposit and was to receive money back. I changed my mind when I remembered that you can send money directly online from BofA customer to BofA customer, so asked for that portion to be discarded and the entire amount to be deposited. As I left the bank, I noticed that only the number I wrote at the bottom was entered into the system, and the other $250 I had originally planned on mailing home was as if it never existed. I’d have walked out $250 short with no proof of its existence.

2. As a customer with BofA since about age 6, I found the free money offers to be a bit unfair, and after a representative came to the store I was working at and said even we could still be eligible, I had renewed faith in my bank and went across the street for more details. I was told if I opened up a second checking account, free of charge and fees, I could get the same money offer as new customers of the company… Twice my referral or new account free money offer fell through. $50 minus what I was orginally promised… I’ve not filled out a referral form, or even referred anyone since, for that matter.

3. I was finally about to receive fees on the second account I opened, so I cancelled it online, which is an amazing bonus feature BofA offers for those that work Mon-Fri 8-5. Only problem was that my savings account was suppose to become my overdraft protection. I received fees the very next time I overdrafted paying my rent, while a significant amount of money sat in my savings account, completely untouched.

4. The day I went in to switch banks, I sat in the office, received a number to ask the clerk to hand me in the form of a cashiers check. As I spoke to the clerk, she informed me his number was over $400 shy of what my actual amount was. There was confusion, and she was FAR from helpful or customer service friendly; this one particular location in Rock Hill, SC always seems to be less than adequate to me. The money was returned to me, in cash, not a cashiers check as I had requested (extremely safe to walk around with your entire bank account worth of cash in hand).

…Point being, I strong urge everyone to take a closer look at your bank in the coming months as these fees and services start to change within your bank. Don’t kindly accept these overdraft fees “willingly”, but instead, put up some fight when you feel the order of withdrawal and fee placement doesn’t quite add up. Contact customer service anytime you have an issue, and get it resolve, and in writing if possible. Online chat is convenient, and allows you to copy and paste a conversation if you feel it necessary. And if it becomes something you feel is right for you, although some of these banks are national, which adds connivence and power to their name, don’t let that hold you back from switching. Smaller, more local banks might not have the same money backing them, but they are much more willing to listen and work with you, and many of them allow the use of any ATMs nationwide, if you really dig and research the different options you have. The bank I am currently now with, NBSC, even offers a 3.5% deposit into your account if you meet their list of requirements, more than even their basic savings account offers.

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