Discovery Series – Atlantic Canada

Discovery Series Atlantic Canada is a mug for the four easternmost provinces of Canada – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador – where European settlement began in the early 1600s. French Acadians established communities in the 1600s before British conquest led to the tragic deportation of Acadians in 1755. The region’s economy was built on fishing, shipbuilding, and maritime trade, with cod fishing sustaining communities for centuries until the devastating collapse of fish stocks in the 1990s.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Twin Cities

Discovery Series Ornament Twin Cities is a mini mug for a city that only had regular-sized mugs before. I got it together with the Minnesota ornament that I added to my collection recently.

The Twin Cities’ history begins with the establishment of Fort Snelling in 1819 at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, creating a military presence that attracted settlers to the region. Minneapolis grew around St. Anthony Falls, harnessing the waterfall’s power for lumber and flour milling in the mid-1800s, while St.… Read more

Been There Ornament – Brisbane

The Been There Ornament Brisbane is almost a complete copy of the mug I added recently.

Brisbane’s history as Queensland’s capital dates back to its founding in 1825 as a penal colony for repeat offenders from Sydney, making it one of Australia’s harshest convict settlements. The settlement opened to free settlers in 1842 and was named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, the governor of New South Wales. Brisbane became the capital when Queensland separated from New South Wales in 1859, evolving from a colonial outpost into a thriving river city.… Read more

Discovery Series – Monterey

Discovery Series Monterey is another interesting release from California.

Monterey’s story begins in 1770 when Spanish explorers established it as the capital of Alta California, making it the political and cultural heart of Spain’s Pacific coast territories. The city continued as the capital under Mexican rule until California’s statehood in 1850, witnessing the transition from Spanish missions to American governance. In the early 20th century, Monterey became synonymous with its booming sardine industry, which John Steinbeck immortalized in “Cannery Row,” though overfishing led to the industry’s collapse by the 1950s.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Minnesota

I got the Discovery Series Ornament Minnesota earlier this year, and it was patiently waiting for this photoshoot.

Minnesota’s history as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” begins with its admission to the Union as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858. The region was shaped by Ojibwe and Dakota indigenous nations before French fur traders arrived in the 17th century. The lumber and flour milling industries, particularly in Minneapolis with its massive mills powered by St. Anthony Falls, drove early economic growth in the late 1800s.… Read more

Been There – Sabah

Been There Sabah is a mug for the Malaysian state located in northern Borneo.

Sabah’s history as Malaysia’s easternmost state begins with the establishment of the British North Borneo Company in 1881, which administered the territory until World War II. The state endured Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, which devastated much of its infrastructure and population. Sabah gained independence and joined the Federation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, a date now celebrated as Malaysia Day. Known as “Land Below the Wind” for its position south of the typhoon belt, Sabah has evolved from a resource extraction economy into a biodiversity hotspot and adventure tourism destination while maintaining its rich indigenous cultures and natural heritage.… Read more

Discovery Series – Alabama

Let’s review the Discovery Series Alabama mug from “the Yellowhammer State”.

Alabama’s history as the “Heart of Dixie” begins with its admission to the Union as the 22nd state on December 14, 1819. The state played a pivotal role in American history, serving as the birthplace of the Confederacy when Montgomery became its first capital in 1861. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, Alabama became the stage for transformative events, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and the Selma to Montgomery marches in 1965.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Atlantic Canada

Similar to the previous collection, Starbucks released a single mug for the Atlantic Canada region rather than separate designs for each province. This approach added some challenges for designers, as they had to create a one-size-fits-all design for the Discovery Series Ornament Atlantic Canada.

Atlantic Canada refers to the region of Eastern Canada comprising four provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The term “Atlantic Canada” was coined by Joey Smallwood, the first premier of Newfoundland, when the Dominion of Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949.… Read more

Been There – Chennai

Been There Chennai is a mug for the capital of Tamil Nadu. The history of the city begins with its founding in 1639, when the British East India Company established Fort St. George on a strip of coastal land. Originally called Madras, the city grew from a small fishing village into a major colonial port and administrative center under British rule. Chennai became the gateway to South India and a center of Tamil culture, literature, and classical arts that flourished alongside colonial development.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Orange County

I reviewed the big mug before, and here’s its mini version: Discovery Series Ornament Orange County

Orange County’s history begins with its separation from Los Angeles County in 1889, when it was created as California’s 31st county and named for the citrus industry that dominated its economy. Spanish missionaries established the first settlements in the region in the 1760s, including Mission San Juan Capistrano founded in 1776. The county remained largely agricultural with vast orange groves until the mid-20th century, when Walt Disney’s decision to build Disneyland in Anaheim in 1955 catalyzed explosive suburban growth.… Read more

1 2 3 4 5 6 245