The Agenda

by James O'Connor

[This article first appeared in The Agenda #14, January 2006]

Brickway On Wickenden
234 Wickenden Street
Providence
(401) 751-2477

I'm guessing it was sometime after eleven-hundred hours that I received a call about a lunch mission; I was forced to decline. I refuse to skip a meal, especially one of the three most important of the day—the amateur meals as I sometimes like to call them. I reminded my buddy of this, and he was soon swayed from his original plan of lunch, quickly realizing who he was talking to. I take my eating seriously and hell or high water I wasn't starting the day with anything other than breakfast.

Note: This letter from a concerned Providentian appeared in The Agenda #18.

Dear “The Cheesecake Factory,”

Approximately one year ago I went to your restaurant to enjoy a nice meal with my girlfriend. She had been given a gift certificate and was excited to take me out for a change. I was intrigued by many of the pastas you had on your menu, but because of dietary restrictions, I was forced to ask a specific question. This question, it turns out, has only one answer at “the Cheesecake Factory”: Yes, I’m afraid so.