A Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing… at Duane Reade

There are some things that certain New York City girls just have down pat. Things that come natural, things that are second nature, and things that define us a group. Of course, technically this applies to any female, but being an islander, I’m a little biased.

The ability to balance a birthday card on one knee, while crouching on the sidewalk in stilettos. A clutch in one hand, pen in the other while mastering the art of the quick, deeply felt card writeup  before entering the door of the restaurant/lounge/club where her friend sits inches away, awaiting her, and all her other friend’s celebratory entrances.

The art of last minute outfit shopping for that date she has with that guy she met in, fill in the blank or more so these days on fill in the blank, dot com. She has a million things in her closet, more then she can even see, and yet, upon further inspection it’s been made abundantly clear to all those around her that nothing is suitable. So, in a last ditch effort a close friend is grabbed and trek is made to an apparel establishment of choice. Depending on who she is, and where she lives, this can be Forever 21, H&M, Club Monaco, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gap, etc. After that other shopping must take place, a one stop shop for all date night necessities, but I digress, as I’ve already spoken on this process before.

There is another mastering that you can find any NY city girl implementing on any given weekend. The pre-trip drugstore shopping excursion. She has a trip in less then 2,3,4 days. She has a list. She has a pen. She has her coupons. And the excursion begins. I myself, being both the former and the latter; a NY city girl AND a pre-trip drugstore shopper know this dance quite well, and I’m about to embark on an excellent adventure, not will Bill and Ted, but with Duane and Reade.

Join us….

So, I have a list. I have a pen. I have the Duane Reader, which I checked out online first, and used to add to my list, starring those which have coupon incentives.

I need Sunscreen. I find that Prevail, a line of jewelry, makeup and body has a moisturizing sunscreen on sale w/ my flex rewards for $10.99 for 2 bottles. This will be my first item to be crossed off.

I also need nail polish. Okay, technically I don’t need nail polish, but you know how the chlorine and sea water can KILL your nails, and for $4.50 I can buy a really cute Prevail nail polish. I pick a light green color, aptly named Rooftop bar. Perfect.

Next, I want to pick up some snacks for the plane and hotel. It’s all inclusive, but a girl can get hungry while getting ready for a big night out in Mexico, and seeing as men eat every 10 to 15 minutes, it couldn’t hurt to have some extra snacks in our room. I pass by veggie sticks, Yogurt bites, all nice, healthy snacks that I found in the reader, all on sale, but nothing really calls my name, until I see the NICE brand cheddar penguins. Perfect snack for pre gaming and then some.

I come upon one of the most important parts of a girls pre-trip drugstore shopping. Two words; Travel. Size. Some Duane Reades have better travel size sections then other, but luckily I’m in the Herald Square location, which with it’s double escalators, resembles more of a high end shop or restaurant, then a drugstore. I pick up bandaids, for any blisters my 4 inch wedges might cause, aspirin, because I’m thinking ahead, and face wipes, because lets face it, sometimes we get lazy, and we just can’t make it to the sink, and a makeup remover wipe is sufficient. You know what I’m talking about, so don’t pretend you don’t do it.

Lastly, I pick up the June Issue of People Style Watch with my favorite girl, Jenny Aniston on the cover, and with that, and 50 Shades Darker in my beach bag, I have enough reading material for the week. Depending on how hot it gets…. The weather, not the book…. maybe.

I’ve picked up everything I need, including stopping at the Pharmacy for my prescription. Leaving the store I am pretty impressed with myself for getting everything on my list, and not diverting too far from the plan, and making it out of Duane Reade in under 45 minutes, which is a feat unto itself, especially now with the Look Boutique. There are enough  makeup, and nail lines to keep a girl busy for hours in there, but I am on a time line, so only necessity will do for this shopping trip.

Next up comes another ritual that strikes fear in the heart of many a female, no matter where you live. The packing. What to pack; how many shoes; how many tops; do you plan out your outfits ahead of time, or do you throw everything in a bag and figure it out later. This is an art form; some excel, and some are challenged. Even a #DReade VIP blogger like myself, am yet to master this art, and since Duane Reade can’t help me with this also, I must fend for myself… Maybe they should come out with a new newsletter, like the Reader, but with tips for packing and sorting. Seeing as you never know what’s going to appear in their stores next, maybe it’s not such a long shot….

Until then… Bon Voyage!!!

If you find yourself preparing for your next big trip away, or even just a staycation, check out Duane Reade on Twitter and  Facebook , and to see more pictures on my pre-trip adventure, check out my story on Google Plus, right here.

“This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias

**all opinions and stories written and expressed here are entirely from my own #DReadeVIP blogger brain**

My Journey Begins

I Stop to find my Duane Reader items…

Always Wear Protection

Prevail Moroccan Oil 

Reading Materials

Mini- Me- The Duane Reade Travel size Section

Snacks, nail polish, and my choice of 99 cent lipstick- tell me what else could you need??!

 

 

 

Green Thumb

Green Sequin Skirt; H&M (Buy something similar Here). Striped top; Strawberry. (similar style here)

Blue/Green necklace; from boutique in Mykonos. Stone hanging necklace w/ B; bought at Broadway vendor.

Glasses; Forever 21. Shoes; Gucci.

Ginger Snaps… The trials and tribulations of a natural redhead….

Nothing strikes more ambivalence in the hearts of men and women alike then that of the rise of the ginger.

Time and Time again, the debate lingers.. Do we love them, loathe them, lust after them, or just secretly envy them?

Sure Patti Stanger certainly hates us with a passion, and apparently our small 12% in the population is continually dwindling, with some reports even saying in the future we’ll be completely extinct.

We’re stuck with phrases like, Red herring, Red headed stepchild, kick a ginger day, and I still have trauma from the oh so clever nickname of fire bush that some douche in junior high coined for me, that unfortunately caught on for a short time. Yes, us gingeys don’t always get a fair shot to show our true colors, red or not, and now even, it seems we’re even given less chances to build our own population.

On the other hand, it can also be argued that those who are the minority are also the most powerful, and in that vein, red might rule the world, as I’ve so earnestly pointed out before.

Nothing says status, and power more then a pair of Louboutins, distinguishable by one special, key thing- RED. And those who have them, are admired, inspired, and most importantly, fashionable.

When a woman wants to hit the town with a bang, and be noticed, what color lipstick does she normally add to her repertoire? When Jared Leto famously sang in My So Called Life to Angela, his song was called, I call her red. (Of course, he was referring to his car..)

I’m reminded of a quote I heard from a Criminal Intent episode once, ” When she’s with him she’ll wear one of her sexy, power suits, the red one. She wears red when she wants something.”

And what about all those famous redheads out there; Julianne Moore, Christina Hendricks, Rita Hayworth, and of course, my favorite, Jessica Rabbit. They represent strength, power, and of course, is it a coincidence that all four of those mentioned are notably oozing sexuality? I think not… And I’m not the only one who feels this way. Here are some other notable red heads…

Red is a sensual color. It’s a powerful color. You wear it when you want to be strong, and if you’re a true red head, then you know that unlike other colors, it means so much more then just the color on the top of your head. Some redheads dye their hair another color, and so many others dye their hair to match ours. For years, I dyed my hair; actually ever since I can remember.

When I was fourteen, I bleached my hair. Instead of getting a warm, honey blond like all my friends that I coveted, my hair was more of a light orange. Of course, my mother was mortified, and soon it was back to normal. As I got older, and my tastes and bank account changed, my hair tendencies changed with it. I stuck my head in a cap, while some young girl pulled out small portions of hair with some kind of pick/comb, and when it was all over I had light blond pin thin highlights. I wrapped my head in foil and had chunky platinum streaks. I went dark, then I went darker. I used kool aid, to dye strands of my hair bright red. When I was living in Italy in 2001, I went to a fancy Italian hair salon, and died my whole head bleach, platinum blond, and stayed like that for years.

As I got older, I slowly started to become more accepting of my natural birthright as a ginger. And what does that entail exactly, being a natural redhead?

Physically, I did less highlights, then I did more. In my late twenties I finally went back to being a red head, and stayed like that for a long time.

And yet, the impulse succumbs, but it never really dies. Although what has died, is my embarrassment of having red hair, and the fear that my natural color will never be good enough. My mom used to tell me, “people pay for your color, and all you do is pay for something else”.

Today, in 2012, I recently tried something new again; ombre. But of course, never one for true conforming, i did it the opposite then the popular trendy way, so now I have my natural red all the way down to my chin, and it turns into bright, blond. You might say I have the best of both worlds; I can be a fiery redhead, or in other words, myself, or a bright, wide eyed blonde. Guess depending on how you are, will depend on who you get.

One thing I do know. Both girls are an original, and you can’t fake that. Not even with a bottle.

MORE EVIDENCE THAT RED RULES….

THE HISTORY OF HAIR 

At College, DYE U 

One Non-Blonde 

HALF and Half 

And Just in case you need further proof that unlike Lady Gaga, I actually WAS, in fact, Born THIS way…

 

IFB project #46: My Mom, the Hero-Style Parallels from Mother to Daughter…..

When I saw this week’s IFB project, I felt an overwhelming mix of emotions thinking about how I would write it. The topic is relevant, the timing is appropriate with Mother’s Day just a few days away, and an introspective look into a story about motherly style is bittersweet in the most creatively exciting of ways.

It certainly isn’t a new topic; in fact since starting Style Island about a year and a half ago, my mom’s stylish influence on me has come up time and again, from reminiscing about my Betsey Johnson stand out prom dress she bought me, to her standing as the worlds’ coolest lender of clothes ever.

She advocated my unique way of looking at things, and pieces, and it wasn’t until later that i realized why she understood so well. Because she saw herself in that little girl standing on a chair in her closet, as bags of vintage clothes pummeled me on the head. And in this story of style passed down through generations, it’s not words, but pictures that really truly tell the tale. I have probably a dozen or so shoeboxes filled, not with shoes, but with pictures, and they helped form not only my own sense of style, but my outlook on style overall. Thats when I realize just how much those pictures influenced the way I shop, the way I look, and the way I perceive trends.

Pictures can tell a thousand words, we all  know that. And in that vein, I can look at any picture of my mom, and make up an entire story surrounding the trip, the place, and the outfit. A simple picture of her on a bridge wearing high waisted jeans and a hot pink tank top takes me to Venice, Italy in the 1960′s, long before high waisted jeans and the neon trend were covered by refinery29.

A shot that looks like it’s out of a movie with my mom wearing a white A line dress and giant, Jackie-O browns sunglasses while gallavanting around Morocco with the locals. For years, I have tried to locate this dress, and when my mother one day told me the devastating news that she actually might have given it to good will or even worse, gasp- thrown it away, I threw a fit. DIDN”T YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE A DAUGHTER ONE DAY?? !! I MEAN, REALLY WHAT WAS THE POINT OF HAVING AMAZING FASHION IF YOU WEREN’T GOING TO PASS IT DOWN TO ME”. I got over it, and my poor mother had to live with the 5 minutes of guilt over not saving her white mini dress for her many years unborn daughter.

An image that I think my father shot of my mother on the ferry on the way to Nantucket is one of my favorites of all time. Wearing a camisole, a scarf tied loosely around her neck (again, a major foreshadow of a cyclical trend to come), a cap, and giant red sunglasses, all while chugging a soda, she exuded a natural confidence, and to me, a innate sense of style that can never be replicated. That woman on the boat is the picture of inspiration. So much so, that on my trip to Greece last summer while on the ferry, I had my friend take pictures of me from the side of the boat while I tried to copy that same picture. Sufficed to say, it didn’t quite work as well as I had hoped

My favorite picture of all time, that I have also mentioned before is rather odd, mainly because you can barely see my mom’s face. She’s on the beach wearing white linen pants, and Addidas shell tops, having a laugh w/a  girlfriend. There’s no ball gown, no giant sign saying look how fashionable I am. But there is something about this picture that I’ve never been able to get out of my head. Maybe it’s the carefree way the picture captures a moment in time. My mother’s tan, or her personality literally jumping off the photo at me, but when I look at it, I feel like I’m there with that 22 year old girl, wishing I was her best friend, and desperately wanting those pants and those sneakers, and wondering, just what was so funny.

Although I never did get over that white dress, she did do me the solid of keeping a lot, so I have a pretty giant vintage selection when I want it. The best part is that when I see a picture I love, and an outfit that I have to have, in some cases, I can actually go into my closet and wear it. Nine out of ten times when I have left my house, and gotten a million compliments on something I’m wearing, my answer when they ask where I bought it isn’t Saks, or Barneys, or H&M, it’s, “my mother”. I’ve managed to take a lot of those pictures, and imitate them almost to a tee. Different decade, different girl, but same fashion, just recycled. I have put together enough of a library, that I actually plan on starting a new feature on my blog where I post the original item via my mom, and the updated version via.. moi.

Of course, I’m sure she’d win the who wore it better every single time. She had a style, a look and a personality that you just can’t copy. But at least I get to say I’m cut from the same cloth.

Style might not be genetic, but hopefully I can say it’s one of the things she left to me. Even if I never did get that white dress….

In honor of all the stylish mom’s out there, those still with us, and those whose soul might have left us, but their clothing didn’t, happy mothers day, Love Bee

Nantucket Chic

 w/ cami, loose scarf, red sunglasses, and a cap -

The Infamous White Dress

The picture of stylish vacationer in a still relevant white dress w/ brown belt, giant sunglasses, clutch, and pulled back hair

The epitome of Saturday night style…

ROcking sick bangs, a printed bolero and black dress

A place in Time maybe not so far away…..

With a hoodie, white linen pants, and shell tops, and a killer tan

Extra, Extra- READE all about it! A New York Saturday Night on the Cheap w/ Duane Reade

There are certain things in this world that are just givens. Saturday night, your corner drugstore, popcorn at the movies. But on certain nights, all those certainties together can make for a symbiotic relationship.

One certainty in New York City, is that if you leave your house on a Saturday night, most likely the unfolding of your evening will not go without spending a good amount of loot. Parties, events, dinners, drinks, movies, all these things cost money. A lot of money. But I have managed to figure out how to spend a Saturday night out without spending much over $20. But I couldn’t do it alone….

Another certainty in this city is drugstores. They’re pretty much on every corner, and you have your pick of them; depending on your neighborhood, and your personality. What type of loyalty rewards card do you have? It might make the difference in how you dress, where you shop, what you eat, who you date. And yet, in a city over saturated with options, I have found loyalty to one that like a boyfriend, caters to my needs, gives me what I want, and even offers to pay. Okay, maybe not pay, but at least make sure I don’t pay too much. And it rewards me back. In this case, by making me a VIP blogger, and entrusting me to spread it’s word and wisdom across this great island.

In keeping with that lovely metaphor, Duane Reade is not like the others. It cares about me so much it puts out, not only a weekly flyer, but an almost monthly newsletter, highlighting my wants and needs, and hoping to ensure I get what I want when I want it. It doesn’t read like your typical circulars at all, but instead features actual write-ups on products, and even goes as far as to have specific themes, and catchy, sarcastic one liners. They always do say one way to a woman’s heart is through humor, and apparently DR(#DReade) knows just how to entice it’s consumer.

Not only does it differ visually, but unlike most others, you can actually shop on this circular online. The Duane Reader can be found by clicking your zip code, again, catering to YOUR specific needs, like any caring, sensitive drugstore should, and upon receiving it, you’re entering a world of products just for you and your hood. Healthy? There’s probiotic nut and raisin mixes on sale for $2.50, perfect for any afternoon slump. Beauty Buff? Pg 4 features nail polishes, and tools. What about a dog owner? You can pick up training pads, bones and some food all for $8.

You can even add stuff to your cart, and make a virtual list, ensuring that just like a dating site, it offers something for everyone.

This particular Saturday night my actual boyfriend was at a bachelors party, (sitting around together watching sports center I assume, as most bachelors do, right?), and so I grabbed my best friend and decided to make it a date night anyway. The New York Way; dinner and a movie. And of course, gossiping, lamenting, and gabbing all night.

Not one to usually skimp on cost, and yet always one to comment on the outrageous theater prices, ( a beautiful contradiction), I decided for once to be a little cautious, and pick up food beforehand. Luckily the Duane Reader had saved me the time of browsing the aisles aimlessly by allowing me to skim it at home, and virtually dog ear everything I wanted. This would make pick up a breeze, and cut my pre- movie routine in half. So, at the Duane Reade on Union Square, I picked up some POP Chips, 2 for $5, some Gummy worms for $2.99, and a drink.

I realized that you can literally plan an entire night inside a Duane Reade; and yes, even a Saturday night. Case in point? Snacks for the movie, CHECK. An easy and cheap dinner to pick up for afterwards? The Penne A La Vodka w/ Grilled Chicken was on sale for $5.99, so CHECK. No Saturday night girl talk dinner would be possible without alcohol, but luckily the sensitive as always DR already had the answer to that too. Wine, CHECK.

#DReade VIP blogger or not,  Duane Reade can fulfill your Saturday night needs, clearly.

Then it was time to see Think Like a Man, right around the corner. I might be watching Think Like a man, but luckily, Duane Reade is thinking just like me.

Click here to go to Duane Reade, and find your closest location

The Trusty Reader that led me to all my perfect snacks. Click here to be taken to my Duane Reader (union Square) or add in your zip code to find your own

This is How we ROLL…..

WINED UP

Did YOU know Duane Reade had this????

To find Duane Reade beyond the island on Manhattan, and onto the web, check them out on Twitter and  Facebook , and to see more on my exiting Saturday Night adventure in pictures, check out my story on Google Plus, right here 

“This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias

**all opinions and stories written and expressed here are entirely from my own #DReadeVIP blogger brain**

The BeeFive- 5 faBEElous obsessions this week~ 4/27/12~ A Greyer Shade of Pale…. 50 Shades of Grey in 5

Recently the subways have gotten a little hotter. And  it’s not the temperature in the cars, it’s the item you can catch in a woman’s hand on any given day; her book. It seems like almost every person, or every other is reading something on the subway. And the secret not so secret obsession as of late- the unexpected 50 Shades of Grey.

The most amazing thing about 50 shades of Grey is almost as much the subject as it is the writer. EL James is a nice, average british housewife, and yet has managed to write maybe the most risque novel since lady chatterly’s lover…

Among a certain group of my friends we bear no shame in Grey. It’s our book club read of the month, in fact. And yet, a funny thing has happened. The book has spread like wildfire, like a good rumor around a circle of friends, and lets just say, everyone has had their say.

But rather then dissipate, it seems to be just growing stronger and stronger, and the books will hit new found fame and fortune, a la hunger games when the books hit the big screen. It’s the same thing… If katniss was a 23 year old mousy virgin, and Gale was an older business man hunter who made her have sex all over the district.

This week, between book club, and reading a few pages every day, I’ve been obsessed with Shades all week.  And it would seem, the rest of the world is also. Or at least, talking about it. 

1) The Book. (But don’t say I didn’t warn you- click below to buy it on Amazon for $9.57)

2) The Woman behind the Book. Click here to check out everything EL, read about the books, and find out more info. I clicked, and found out that James is doing a book tour with 50 shades. I can’t wait for May 10th at Barnes & Noble. Log on to see when she’s coming to your city.

3) The Movie. It is inevitable in this day and age, that something which comes from nothing, and blows up to be incredibly successful, either monetarily or not, would not be capitalized on within a short amount of time. You see it time and time again, and the formula never changes. You know it’s mainstream, when Ellen is reading excerpts from it. And now, talks are swirling all over the internet about the upcoming movie. Who will play Christian, and Ana? What will the rating be? How will these words translate on a screen even?

4) The Casting. This newly heated, and much discussed topic is probably one of the most important conversations, not only for the book, but for the success of the future PR machine franchise. Christian Steele is a new character with a new set of rules for a new day and age; a hero that is not exactly likable. Deciding who plays the gorgeous, 27 year old wealthy control freak, as well as Ana’s journey from naive college grad to apprehensive vixen is not an easy feat, but it’s certainly one that everyone has an opinion on, from the blogosphere to reality.

Between Ian Sommerhalder( who?), to Christian Bale (a fav, but way too old!), to Ryan Gosling (Amazing, but I don’t think the right fit), to talks of Zoey Deschanel as Ana (NO WAY! way to quirky and can’t picture her being sexual), everyone has input on who they  think should jump off the page, out of our bedrooms and into our movie theaters.

Personally, I love Zac Efron for it. I don’t really have any real justification for this except that I want to see Zac Efron under those circumstances. Oh right, and he’s a terrific actor. Or even Colin Egglesfield, from Something Borrowed. He definitely has the much talked about eyes for it.

WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD PLAY CHRISTIAN AND ANA?

5) The Music. And the Clothes. If you click on the EL JAMES website (as listed above), there is a link to music, that actually has the 50 shades soundtrack. Which I didn’t even know existed! But it brought up an interesting question, and got me thinking about the movie soundtrack. Again, this can sometimes be the life or death of a movie, and the right soundtrack can make something good, into something amazing.  WHAT SONGS CAN YOU IMAGINE IN THE MOVIE?

The other thing I was thinking about, from a marketing perspective is the clothing. Ana is pretty non descript, but Christian’s clothing is mentioned so gratuitously that it could be another character in the book. From the crisp white shirts, to the casual wear of his jeans, to his blazers it makes me wonder how whoever plays him, is going to wear the clothes. And which clothing company will reign supreme will be yet another topic of heavy discussion.

The BeeFive- 5 faBEElous obsessions this week~ 4/20~ Cheap Island Thrills (5 ways to pay nothing for something in NYC)

Happy Friday to all my islanders, and beyond. If you live in New York City, then you know that there is never a lack of information for what to do, see, hear, eat, screw; whatever floats your preverbal boat. Google “free stuff, nyc”, and about a million sites and links will pop up, everything from walk the highline, to oh god… that is not at all what i meant by cheap thrills.

And yet, I am still amazed by the plethera of things that really excite and amaze you, that don’t have to cost much, or anything at all. And this week, I’m totally obsessed with the idea of something for nothing.. 

1) Gem Spa. This unassuming deli on the corner of St Marks Place, (8th and first ave), is exactly what it says. A little gem. Because the difference between it, and every other bodega in New York City is not it’s variety of soft drinks, but the fact that it serves the best egg cream in NY. Maybe anywhere… The cashier, and owner makes them himself, and although he’s been featured several times in NY Mag, and Time Out, he shys away from the press. He wouldn’t even let me take his picture. But that doesn’t stop him from making these delicious egg creams (for those who don’t know an egg cream is vanilla syrup, seltzer and milk), and it tastes like heaven. I made my friend, who had never even heard of one before try it out, and broke her egg cream cherry, all for $2 out of my pocket. 

2) Central Park. Last Saturday, I spent the day strolling through central park. Everyone was out, and the great lawn was filled with hundreds of people sun bathing, reading, frisbeeing, you  name it. I was amazed by how it looked like a highschool out of a movie. The cool kids, the hipsters, the loner, the girl studying unaffected, while her enamored bf kissed her. Everyone was out enjoying life. And no one spent a penny doing it. That day I watched boats, saw monuments, and attended a wedding. 

3) Pulsd.com. I have become completely obsessed with this website pulsdnyc.com. Again, if you really want to know what to do on any single day, week, month, there is no shortage of places to find something to do. But something about Pulsd has me hooked. It is daily, and features the best of coolest events; culturally, socially, and otherwise, and though a lot of the events, concerts, and food shows cost $ for a ticket, they also feature so many cool, free events. I log on at least a few times a day, and usually leave the tab open in case something else cool comes my way. This is definitely a website that should go in your bookmarks- trust me. You’ll wind up going to at least one cool thing this month you might not have known about otherwise. 

4) Walk Around Manhattan. Okay, this one is a bit of a cop out, but honestly, it’s not only fun, it’s one of the best ways to get around the city, and explore unfound streets, stores, and restaurants. And you can’t do it by train, or obnoxious double decker tour bus. You can only do it by the good old fashioned method- walking the city streets.   

5) The return of the Outdoor Movie. The season of the outdoor movie is upon us. I remember a time, that doesn’t seem like that far back, when the ambiance of a giant movie screen playing something old while 200 New Yorkers sit together and watch over wine, and cheese was a special event. When the weather hits 70, and it doesn’t get dark till 8, stroll over to Bryant Park on Monday nights, but get there early and don’t forget your blanket and your food.

Nowadays, that special night is not so special. Because if you miss that one, there will be 5-6 other ones each week until summer comes to a close. There’s Hudson River Park, Rooftop films, Red Hook Films, Movies under the Stars, and about a dozen other off-shoots, all basically promising essentially the same thing. 

A New York City Summer night. Where else can you watch a movie, while literally staring at a life size version of the brooklyn bridge lit up right in front of you. And with the price of movies so extravagantly high these days, where else could you ever see one for free.