Discovery Series – Queens

Discovery Series – Queens finalizes the mini collection of five New York City boroughs.

Queens is a vibrant and historically rich borough of New York City, located on the western edge of Long Island. Established in 1683 and named after Catherine of Braganza, the Queen consort of King Charles II of England, Queens has grown to become the largest borough by area and the second-most populous district in New York City. As of 2020, Queens boasts a population of approximately 2.3 million people, making it the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world, with over 48% of its residents born outside the United States.… Read more

Discovery Series – Staten Island

Discovery Series – Staten Island is the fourth mug from the small collection of the NYC boroughs.

Originally inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans, Staten Island was first sighted by European explorer Henry Hudson in 1609. Over centuries, it evolved from a Dutch settlement in the 17th century to a vital hub of the Revolutionary War and, eventually, a suburban enclave within the bustling metropolis of New York City.

Some of the landmarks of Staten Island, as seen in the design of the mug:

– The Staten Island Greenbelt is a sprawling network of parks and natural spaces, making it one of the largest contiguous areas of nature in New York City.… Read more

Discovery Series – Manhattan

Discovery Series – Manhattan is probably the most colorful among “Boroughs of NYC” mugs. There are five in total, but it’s safe to say that some people mistakenly equate Manhattan with all of New York City. This is likely because Manhattan is the most well-known borough, home to iconic landmarks like Times Square, Central Park, and Wall Street. For many, especially tourists or those less familiar with NYC, Manhattan embodies the city’s global image.

The history of Manhattan goes back to 1624, when Dutch settlers established a trading post on the island, calling it New Amsterdam.… Read more

Discovery Series – The Bronx

Discovery Series The Bronx is a mug for the only New York City borough that is part of the United States mainland.

The Bronx was named after Jonas Bronck, a Swedish sea captain who settled in the area in 1639. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the region remained largely rural, dotted with farms and estates owned by prominent New York families. The borough underwent a massive transformation in the late 19th century with the arrival of elevated trains and subway lines, spurring rapid urbanization and population growth.… Read more

Discovery Series – Brooklyn

Starbucks is going granular with the release of the Discovery Series Brooklyn mug. We’ve seen mugs for parks and universities, but never for a borough of a city. Does it mean other cities will follow this pattern? It’s hard to say, but I definitely see many more locations for this new collection. The Discovery Series might end up being the largest ever. Stay tuned, I will add them all here… eventually…

As for the New York City boroughs, these are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – New York City

These were discovered (pun intended) much faster than I expected. As you probably remember, in the case of the previous series of Starbucks collectibles, there was a six-month gap between the release of the mugs and the release of the ornaments. So I was mentally prepared to see the mini mugs from the Discovery series only closer to the end of the year. What was my amazement when I saw the photos of the brand-new Discovery Series Ornament – New York City today.… Read more

Discovery Series – New York City

Similarly to the previous collection, the Big Apple gets its own mug and Starbucks Discovery Series – New York City joins the NY State on the store shelves.

The moniker “Big Apple” for New York City has a somewhat elusive origin, but it gained popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, primarily through its use in horse racing circles. It’s believed that John J. Fitz Gerald, a sports writer for the New York Morning Telegraph, popularized the term in his column, “Around the Big Apple,” where he referred to New York City as the “big apple” to denote the city’s prominence and allure.… Read more