NEW YORK, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In a city where "everyone's a comic" – or at least auditioning to be one – New Yorkers now have the opportunity to showcase their comedic talents by supplying a humorous or witty caption to a Duane Reade cartoon, as part of the drugstore chain's Facebook "Caption Contest" that kicks off this week.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110504/NY94450)

Each week for the next four weeks, Duane Reade will run a caption-less cartoon in selected New York newspapers, where a uniquely New York scene or scenario is ripe for a clever caption.  The subject matter in the various cartoons will certainly strike a chord with most city denizens.

In one cartoon, an air traffic controller is seen taking an ill-advised break amidst a busy day at the airport.  A second cartoon has the city's new sanitary grades for eating establishments making an appearance, as a man crawling through the desert encounters a less-than-sanitary sidewalk food vendor.

In each cartoon, a different Duane Reade product makes a cameo appearance.  For instance, Duane Reade water is sold by the food vendor, and the air traffic controller sits reclined with a bag of Duane Reade popcorn while watching a movie on his monitor.  All the products are currently featured in the new Duane Reader "magalog" that is published regularly for consumers by the drug store chain.

To submit a caption, contestants are asked to text "DR" to 30364, or visit facebook.com/duanereade.  Contest hopefuls can also visit the corporate website at www.duanereade.com and click on the dedicated contest banner located on the homepage.

"We felt this contest provided a natural viral path to increasing our social media presence while showcasing the creative zeal of many New Yorkers," said Paul Tiberio, senior vice president merchandising and marketing at Duane Reade.  "This Facebook initiative enables us to highlight our new Duane Reade product offerings in an edgy but strategically engaging way."

A panel of judges will select the best overall caption from among all entries for the four different cartoons, and run the winning one as a full-page ad in the June 27 double-issue of "New York" magazine.

About Duane Reade

Founded in 1960, Duane Reade is the largest drug store chain in New York City. In keeping with company's brand vision of New York Living Made Easy, Duane Reade provides New Yorkers with prescriptions, health products and services, beauty products and services, food and convenience items for daily life in the City... everything for "How I Feel", "How I Look", and "What I Need Now".  The company operates 250+ stores throughout the metropolitan New York region.

SOURCE Duane Reade