Spring/Summer Arlington Virginia

This week's mug is another retail mug from Arlington, Virginia and shows a flower garden full of greenery.  The design is a full wrap around drawing with the name Arlington Virginia along one edge.  

When hot liquid is added, the dark areas of green turn clear and bright flowers of all sorts pop out for spring!  This mug is beautiful and the colors are great.

DESIGN:  Full, 3+ Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Retail

Autumn Magic

This is a magic mug from a company called "One of a Kind" and is even dated 1997.   The mug shows a full 3 sided design of different kinds of leaves with the title Autumn Magic.  

Once hot liquid is added, the green tinged edges disappear showing the bright Autumn Colors of the leaves. This is a beautiful mug.  Originally dated 1997 and most likely available for retail purchase in areas where people go to visit and see the colors of Autumn in the leaves.  

DESIGN:  Full, 3+ Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Retail

Astronomical Planet Symbols - Smithsonian Institute

This is a terrific mug from the Smithsonian Institution (purchased at the National Air and Space Museum Gift Shop) which shows a night sky - Well, ok, this mug is old and has been used a lot.  The design suggests that the dark area was once dark as night, cut out stars give a great night sky effect.  Once a thermochromatic ink mug has been microwaved, or sat in the sun too long, well this is the effect.

AND, once a hot beverage is poured in, the design changes.  

What you see now are the astronomical symbols which represent each of the 9 (yes, I said 9) planets in our solar system. (Pluto is included in this list as the mug was more than likely designed before it's status change in status to "Dwarf Planet.") At the bottom of the design it also says "National Air and Space Museum."

DESIGN:  Full, 3+ Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Retail

Mars 2112

The Mars 2112 Restaurant was one of many tourist-targeted restaurants in the Times Square district of New York City, based on future space travel and accommodations. At 33,000 sq ft, it was the largest such themed restaurant when it opened in November 1998.

The restaurant closed in January 2012.

Because of this, this mug holds a special place in my collection.  It's always good to find a mug which is not a national brand name.   Above you can see the front of the mug, a dark square on which it says "Make the journey."  

When hot liquid is added, the dark rectangle clears showing the restaurant's logo, and the locale.  "MARS 2112, NEW YORK"

DESIGN:  1 Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Retail, advertising, restaurant - hospitality.

Zander's Mega

This mug is one of the more unusual as it is from Zanders Mega.  There is not a lot of information about this company, other than they sold stationery and originated in Europe. The mug features a large question mark on one side of the mug, which sequentially becomes less and less curved, becoming an exclamation point at the end, next to the ZANDERS name, written down its side. 

How liquid reveals the word Mega, completing the name ZANDERS Mega.  This was a promotional cup, given to promote the new company when it came into the US.  (Trademark was given in 1993, the mug produced sometime in the mid 90's.) 

DESIGN:  1+ Sided
THERMOCHROMIC: 1 Color
TYPE: Promotional, Retail
ON THE BOTTOM: Nothing