I Love Duane Reade!

"Flagship" Duane Reade on East 57th Street

Somewhere in a different time in New York City I worked very close to Duane and Reade Streets. Duane Street was named for Mayor James Duane, who was the first post-British Mayor of New York and Reade Street was named for  the eighteenth century rector of Trinity Church, John Reade, Now -- and for quite a long time -- when anyone says Duane Reade every New Yorker thinks of the go-to drugstore chain, Duane Reade, named for the first store that stood on the corner of Duane and Reade.

Dear Duane Reade,

I was so excited when I read that my favorite drugstore was sponsoring a contest to name the Duane Reade VIP Blogger for 2012. I mentioned this to one of my colleagues, not as familiar with Duane Reade or the great inventory you carry, who asked me what would I would do with a $200. gift card each month. My response was quick. I just about live in Duane Reade. There is a branch one block from my apartment building and one at the stop where I transfer trains in the morning. It's where I fill my prescriptions and say hello to Frank, my pharmacist. It's the store where I bought the birthday card for K. last night and perused Valentines. I pick up groceries, including fresh fruit and vegetables, wraps for lunch, popchips and luna bars. I buy  paper towels and magazines and when I'm in the mood to splurge for great cosmetics I don't go to one of the big department stores, I go to one of the "flagship" Duane Reade stores for fabulous and fun bubble bath and dozens of colors of nail polish. And the bottles of water I bought at the last minute before hunkering down for Hurricane Irene...bought at Duane Reade at Broadway and 88th Street! I would be the proverbial kid in a candy store literally and figuratively and what fun we could have together.  

I'm long overdue writing this love letter to Duane Reade. Dear Duane Reade, You made me love you, and now I'm asking to go steady with you as one of the VIP Bloggers for 2012. I've blogged about you, but never to you and now I'm telling the world how much I care. Please don't be shy and let me know you care, too, and we'll have a glorious year together.

Dear Blog friends, this is my official entry to the Duane Reade VIP Blogger Contest.