Author: Golden State Review Contributor

As 2026 begins, Starbucks is kicking off the new year with a refreshed and expansive menu that blends innovative beverages, globally inspired pastries, and a pop culture tie-in aimed at energizing its loyal customer base. The coffee chain unveiled the new offerings on December 29, 2025, signaling a strategic effort to maintain momentum after a busy holiday season and attract a broad range of customers in the months ahead. At the center of the rollout are two new matcha beverages that will be added permanently to the Starbucks menu, marking the brand’s ongoing investment in matcha-based drinks as consumer demand…

As 2025 draws to a close, the final weekend of the year brought with it a wide array of streaming premieres and television episodes, giving U.S. audiences plenty to choose from during the extended holiday break. From high-profile thrillers to long-awaited sci-fi episodes and dramatic serials, the weekend’s entertainment lineup offered a compelling mix for viewers across all preferences. Leading the weekend’s new releases was The Copenhagen Test, a Peacock original series starring Simu Liu. Premiering in full on December 27, the eight-episode spy thriller dropped just in time for a binge-watching session over the long holiday weekend. Liu, known…

On December 25, 2025, as families across the United States celebrated Christmas, a significant number of Americans turned to restaurants rather than home kitchens for their holiday meals. With Christmas Day falling on a Thursday, many chose the convenience and communal experience of dining out, embracing a growing trend of holiday meals served in public settings. Despite the federal holiday prompting the closure of most retail stores and financial markets, a wide range of national chains, local eateries, and full-service restaurants remained open, offering options that catered to a variety of tastes and holiday traditions. Among the most accessible choices…

The Annual National Gingerbread House Competition and Display in Asheville, North Carolina, has once again captured the imagination of holiday lovers across the United States. As of December 23, 2025, the event continued to draw large crowds to the historic Omni Grove Park Inn, transforming the resort into a sugary showcase of artistry and tradition. Now in its 33rd year, the competition has grown far beyond its humble beginnings, evolving into one of the most anticipated seasonal attractions in the country. First launched in the early 1990s as a modest local event, the gingerbread house competition has blossomed into a…

The University of Miami Hurricanes delivered one of the most significant wins of their modern football era on Sunday night, defeating the Texas A&M Aggies 10–3 to advance to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. In a game defined by defensive discipline and physical execution, Miami neutralized one of the nation’s most explosive offenses and secured a postseason victory that signals the program’s resurgence on the national stage. The low-scoring contest unfolded as a defensive struggle from the opening kickoff, with both teams finding yards hard to come by. Miami’s defense set the tone early, applying consistent pressure and limiting Texas…

The winter holiday season is in full swing, and across the country, travel activity has surged as millions of Americans head home to celebrate with loved ones. On December 19, the first major wave of holiday movement kicked off what transportation analysts expect to be one of the busiest travel seasons in recent history. Airports, highways, train stations, and bus terminals reported significant increases in volume as travelers began their year-end journeys. According to projections from national travel and transportation groups, a record-setting 122 million Americans are expected to travel between December 20 and January 1. This figure represents a…

The 2025 68 Ventures Bowl, one of the highly anticipated postseason matchups concluding the 2025 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) season, was held on December 17 in Mobile, Alabama, at Hancock Whitney Stadium. In a tightly contested game that showcased strong defensive efforts and strategic playmaking, the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens emerged victorious, defeating the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 20-13. This win marked a historic moment for Delaware, as it was the program’s first-ever bowl victory since joining the FBS, making their debut in postseason play even more significant. Delaware’s victory was not only a testament to the team’s resilience and skill…

On December 15, 2025, National Cupcake Day was celebrated across the United States, bringing together bakers, pastry lovers, and communities in a shared love of the delightful, bite-sized treat. This annual event encourages people to embrace their inner bakers, explore creative cupcake flavors, and indulge in a variety of fun and festive activities. The holiday was met with enthusiastic participation from bakeries, cafés, culinary schools, and even home bakers who took the opportunity to celebrate one of the most beloved desserts in the world. Throughout the day, local bakeries in cities across the U.S. showcased their special cupcakes, offering unique…

How a Father-Son Team Built Pisa Construction Group into the Hudson Valley’s Premier Luxury Outdoor Specialist From Dreams to Reality: The Legacy of Pisa Construction Group Imagine walking out of your back door and into your own personal paradise, an outdoor sanctuary designed just for you, a space where memories are made, laughter echoes, and every detail feels like it was crafted with your lifestyle in mind. This vision has been a reality for the Cox family for over three decades. What began as a passion project between a father and son has grown into Pisa Construction Group, one of…

In one of the most exhilarating finishes of the 2025 college football season, the South Carolina State Bulldogs overcame a daunting early deficit to defeat the Prairie View A&M Panthers 40-38 in an unforgettable quadruple overtime battle at the 10th annual Celebration Bowl on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Celebration Bowl, widely regarded as the de facto Black college football national championship, was a showcase of resilience, skill, and determination from both teams, keeping fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Prairie View A&M jumped out to an early 21-0 lead, leaving South Carolina…