Latest news with #AnthonyRobledo
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Oreo unveils new and limited-edition flavor: Chocolate Covered Pretzel
Oreo unveils new and limited-edition flavor: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Oreo has yet another new cookie flavor up its sleeve. The iconic sandwich cookie brand announced a new and limited-edition Oreo cookie flavor inspired by chocolate covered pretzels, another sweet and savory snack, slated to hit shelves next month. With the release of the chocolate covered pretzel-flavored cookies, Oreo is catering to the 81% of consumers who "pay attention to the sensory experience" of their snacks, citing a 2024 snack report by Oreo's owner Mondelez International. Chocolate Covered Pretzel Oreos, the brand's "first-ever sweet and savory cookie," will make its debut at retail locations nationwide starting May 5, all while supplies last. "A playful take on the sweet and salty treat, Oreo Chocolate Covered Pretzel flavored cookies feature chocolate flavor creme, sandwiched between pretzel-flavored cookies that are topped with salt, making this the first-ever sweet and savory cookie from the OREO brand," Oreo said in an April 23 news release. Other recent additions to Oreo's flavor lineup Oreo is no stranger to innovation, launching new flavor combinations every couple of months. The brand's most recent flavor announcement, which included Double Chocolate Cakesters and the return Golden Birthday Cake Oreo, occurred about a month after Oreo's collaboration with rapper turned country singer Post Malone in January. Double Chocolate Cakesters, a chocolatier version of the original Oreo Cakesters, became a permanent addition to the Oreo portfolio. Golden Birthday Cake Oreo, meanwhile, returned for a limited-time run on March 3. Other recent additions to Oreo's lineup include Oreo Loaded cookies, Oreo Irish Creme Thins, Oreo Minis Peanut Butter, Oreo Bites and Oreo Mini Bars. Oreo Loaded cookies, Game Day cookies and Golden Cakester Soft Snack Cakes, three Oreo products also released at the start of the year, may still be found and purchased wherever Oreo cookies are sold. Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Starbucks unveiling 2025 summer menu in May: Here's a sneak peek of what's coming
Starbucks unveiling 2025 summer menu in May: Here's a sneak peek of what's coming Show Caption Hide Caption Starbucks ordered to pay $50 million to man burned by hot tea A man was awarded $50 million from Starbucks after a large hot drink spilled on his lap in a drive-thru, causing life altering third-degree burns. The calendar will soon flip from April to May, which means summer, and summer menus, are on the horizon. Starbucks' will be unveiling its full summer menu in May, but this week offered USA TODAY a sneak peak of some items that will be included. The company is unveiling a new Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, while bringing back the Summer-Berry Refreshers that were introduced in 2024, a spokesperson told USA TODAY. The coffee chain will also be debuting a new Strawberries & Cream Cake Pop. The Summer-Berry Refreshers, unveiled last year, featured a layer of popping raspberry flavored pearls at the bottom of the cup, adding fruity flavor to the drink. The refreshers were available in three flavors: Summer-Berry, Summer-Berry with Lemonade and Summer Skies. When did the Starbucks summer menu come out in 2024? Starbucks unveiled its summer menu on May 7 last year. In addition to the Summer-Berry Refreshers, last year's menu also featured a White Chocolate Macadamia Cold Brew, an Orange Cream Cake Pop and a Pineapple Cloud Cake. Starbucks announces new dress code for employees Also announced this week, Starbucks is updating its dress code to limit the amount of colors that staff can wear as part of effort to enhance its signature green apron look. Starting on May 12, baristas will be required to wear a solid black top, whether it's a crewneck, collared or button-up shirt, the coffee chain announced Monday. Meanwhile their bottoms must be a shade of black, khaki or blue denim. The chain said it will also provide employees with two free black T-shirts as the "more defined color palette" is launched. "We're evolving our dress code in all stores to focus on simplified color options that allow our iconic green apron to shine and create a sense of familiarity for our customers, no matter which store they visit across North America," Starbucks said in a news release. The company said the dress code change will maintain the green apron's status as the symbol for Starbucks since they were introduced in 1987. In 2016, Starbucks unveiled a dress code that allowed baristas to embrace some more diversified personal styles from pink hair to fedoras. Contributing: Anthony Robledo & Mike Snider, USA TODAY Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@
USA Today
23-03-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Partial solar eclipse 2025: The moon will take a bite of the sun on March 29
Partial solar eclipse 2025: The moon will take a bite of the sun on March 29 Just over two weeks after a total lunar eclipse, the U.S. will be dazzled by a partial solar eclipse. For skywatchers in the northeastern U.S. and Canada this week, it will appear as though the moon took a bite out of the sun. The eclipse will occur in the early hours of Saturday, March 29, according to A partial solar eclipse is when the moon comes between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow on our planet without fully blocking out the sun. The moon will produce a striking crescent sun at sunrise, giving the northeastern states the best views. Even though it's only a partial eclipse, you'll need eye protection to view it at all times. More on that later. When and where the partial solar eclipse will be visible Which states will have the best views? The eclipse will occur between 4:50 a.m. to 8:43 a.m. ET on March 29, according to More than 800 million people will be within some portion of the eclipse, says. The solar eclipse won't cover as much area as last year's Great North American Eclipse, but it will be visible on the eastern horizon for the District of Columbia and 13 Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia. What time is the partial solar eclipse visible? What happens during a partial solar eclipse? A partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, but the three bodies are not quite in line. It appears as if only a portion of the sun is covered, giving it a crescent shape. Protect your eyes during a partial solar eclipse Remember this is a solar eclipse, not a lunar eclipse. It's never safe to look at the sun with the naked eye. A partial solar eclipse can expose your eyes to possibly harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Without proper eye protection, you can suffer "eclipse blindness" within seconds of staring at the sun. The American Optometric Association says eclipse blindness can lead to a serious injury in which the eye's retina is damaged by solar radiation. If you buy eclipse glasses, be sure they are made by companies the American Astronomical Society and NASA have certified as safe. The glasses should have the "ISO" (International Organization for Standardization) icon. The glasses also must have the ISO reference number 12312-2. CONTRIBUTING Natalie Alund, Anthony Robledo and Jim Sergent SOURCE NASA, Forbes and USA TODAY research
USA Today
19-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
'Beware of fraudulent websites': Joann only accepting in-store purchases during closure
'Beware of fraudulent websites': Joann only accepting in-store purchases during closure Joann, the popular fabrics and craft store that's closing all of its locations, issued a warning about potential online shopping scams during its liquidation process, encouraging customers to only shop in-person as going-out-of-business sales continue. "Due to the demand, we are NOT accepting orders online," the store said in a recent Instagram statement. "Beware of fraudulent websites." The announcement comes after Joann announced the closure of all its stores earlier this month. Initially, Joann had stated that only around 500 of its 800 locations across the US would close. 'Wrong': Customers outraged by Joann's gift card cutoff ahead of store closures The Hudson, Ohio-based retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time within a year and auctioned its remaining assets. On Feb. 22, retail liquidator GA Group and Joann's term lenders won the bidding for the company. In a notice to its customers, the store said purchases on its official website, were disabled on March 5. "Please see your local store for all your crafting needs. Inventory varies by location," the statement said. In the comment section, some customers complained about their orders being canceled. Others said that they were scammed by a fraudulent website. USA TODAY reached out to the retailer for comment. "Fake Joann's websites that look EXACTLY like the original. Prices are too good to be true. It looks exact, even sends an order confirmation email," one person alleged. "I ordered something from it and my bank contacted me right away and canceled my CC." According to ABC News, the Better Business Bureau Tracker was alerted of more than 200 phony websites. Using a credit card for purchases, not providing sensitive information, and verifying the store's URL can help consumers avoid these scams, the BBB said. Joann faces backlash for gift card policy Joann has been receiving pushback from customers since the chain revealed a new policy that gift cards would no longer be accepted as payment during their massive sale. Multiple users commented on Joann's latest post about fraudulent websites to criticize the chain's decision about gift cards. Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@
USA Today
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Get him to the Oscars. A reporter's mad dash to get dressed for Hollywood's big night
Get him to the Oscars. A reporter's mad dash to get dressed for Hollywood's big night Show Caption Hide Caption USA TODAY journalist gets help from staff for 2025 Oscars look Anthony Robledo was assigned to cover his first Academy Awards, but didn't have a tuxedo. A fellow reporter helped style him for the show. LOS ANGELES − It began, as most good ideas do, on a walk. This motley crew known as USA TODAY's National Trending Team was called to Nashville one year ago to test the novel idea of putting a group of journalists in a room together for two days. On our first night in town, the group of us normally responsible for the night's watch on the news agreed that we would eat at one of the restaurants in the city's food hall that is de rigueur for any municipality attempting to style itself as cosmopolitan. "It's roughly a one-mile walk," texted the night's organizer, not knowing that a path over a river and through the woods would be less treacherous than the one from The Tennessean's offices to Assembly Food Hall. Somewhere along West End Avenue, our entertainment enthusiast Anthony Robledo decided to drop the news that he would be attending the Oscars for the first time with a nonchalance that disagreed with the facts at hand. In the congratulations, a question fueled by years of slinging suits at a Brooks Brothers in Phoenix and a lifetime of #menswear consumption bubbled: "Do you have a tux?" That question began a two-week dash to outfit our Guy Friday for Hollywood's biggest night. Tuxedo needed for Oscars quickly, inexpensively Purchasing clothes, especially tailored clothing, out of an immediate need is less than ideal, and the specificity and lack of time for this situation compounded the difficulty. When dealing with a piece like a tuxedo, one has to balance the ease of purchase with the cost and time needed to find the correct fit and alterations. A guideline was added to the mission by both editorial suggestion and financial reality: acquire the clothes as inexpensively as possible. With the quick road of a purchase from menswear value stalwart Spier and Mackay out of the question, we would need the blessing of the notably fickle thrift gods. After Anthony provided the key measurements − chest just below the crook of the arm and an honest assessment of his waist circumference − the hunt for a 38 short was on. This would be the point in the movie where a montage of hunting for trying on tuxedos at various thrift stores would go, however the news machine required us to feed it so organizing an in-person hunt was not possible. Efforts were made on eBay using Boolean searches, a more refined method of combing through the virtual flea market, though none of the options would be able to reach Southern California in time. Trawling Etsy yielded one option that was adequate but did not inspire joy. With the internet failing us, it was time to do something unthinkable − call people. While Crowley Vintage, the vintage Mecca in New York, did not have any options, Richard's Fabulous Finds in Chicago had the one. Photos sent from the eponymous owner showed that he had undersold the double-breasted tuxedo with grosgrain facings that would have fit in during Hollywood's golden age. Anthony plunked down the $295 plus taxes and shipping for the tuxedo, and Richard handed it over to FedEx as quickly as he could so that it would get to Anthony in Orange County with a couple of days to spare. It would get to him in time, right? Minimizing other risks Since we had our centerpiece on its way, I wanted to minimize the worry on other elements of the outfit. Black tie, the dress code tuxedos fall under, calls for tuxedo shirts that have French cuffs, take studs and either a pleated or pique bib. SuitSupply offered (and still has) a version of a tuxedo shirt with the studs included, knocking two items out in a $140 purchase. Did Anthony give me the wrong neck size when I first went to pick it up for him at the Century City location? Yes, yes, he did. However, there is a reason we keep physical stores and when we met to put things together, it was an easy process to find the correct size and swap it out for the shirt. Given that we did not know if this would be a one-off at the time, I laid out shoe options from eBay that were certain to get in before the show and would be useful for Anthony's day-to-day wardrobe. Naturally, he picked the most casual option − a pair of Peal and Co. black cap-toe oxfords sold under the banner of my long-ago employer, Brooks Brothers. They'd get him through, though. The Thursday before the ceremony, Anthony got an update that the tuxedo that should have been delivered that afternoon was delayed until the next day. Nothing to worry about, right? That Friday, I picked up the accoutrement that remained outstanding from the venerable Beverly Hills haberdasher Carrol Custom: a grosgrain bow tie (self-tie because pre-tied is for children), formal braces and a pair of black over-the-calf socks. While the new generation sprung from the foundational Carrol and Co. may not be a household name, for my money there is no greater source of institutional clothing knowledge − with a select few equaling it − in the City of Angels. Was this a splurge, yes, as the bill nearly equaled that of the tuxedo itself, but the ability to say that the only outstanding pieces were the shoes and the tuxedo was worth the premium. As I was heading away from the madness that is Rodeo Drive, I was alerted to the news that the shoes had come in early, while the tuxedo was on a delivery truck that was still nowhere to be found. We had passed the point at which having alterations done was possible, so if it got in that night or Saturday, there wouldn't be much of a difference. FedEx delivers on Saturday, right? Not in this instance I was rousted awake the Saturday morning ahead of the ceremony with a call from Anthony, the tuxedo was delayed until Monday. Apparently, the particular warehouse it landed in did not operate on Saturdays. After some *ahem* terse calls with FedEx that yielded nothing, Anthony and I had less than 24 hours to come up with another plan. Luckily, the Academy's dress code for the media specifies "formal attire or a dark elegant suit," and Anthony already had a black suit in his closet. It would get him through, so long as he did not commit the sartorial sin of attempting to make it look like a tuxedo. The shirt and most of the accessories we purchased would have to be shelved, but at least the shoes would still be usable. I loaned him a black knit tie and a white linen pocket square and, ya know, he didn't look half-bad. That Sunday, Anthony was ensconced in the Academy Awards while his tuxedo was stuck in a drafty FedEx warehouse, longing for its destiny under the bright lights of Hollywood. The tuxedo will, eventually, make it to the Oscars Anthony did receive the tuxedo that following Monday. I may have uttered a few curses aimed at a particular delivery company once I had received the word of its arrival. For buying it blind, the fit was better than one could ask for. A few nips and tucks were required, according to Anthony. The tuxedo did, finally, make its red carpet debut in January at the Golden Globes and will be there at the Oscars, one year fashionably late.
