Stamp of Approval

Post Office by Eric Badis 

Letter Lane - (BTT) Black Friday sales were down while Cyber Monday sales were up. It seems like anything brick-and-mortar is slowly going the way of the dinosaur, and certainly this website isn't about to advocate spending less time online. Despite the seeming doom and gloom, there is one physical establishment that couldn't be happier about the news - the post office. After all, those packages aren't going to walk themselves to your front door unless they are first in the hands of a postal carrier. As grey as the skies during those days with rain, snow, and gloom, this building stands strong in an uncertain world (until Google and Amazon perfect strapping boxes to drones).

Microscale Monday 02-11-2013

Courtesy Basilika by moctown

Abbey Road - (BTT) Religion is a touchy subject, as proven with the announcement that the Pope decided he's had enough of wearing pointy hats and riding around in Tupperware cars. Still, regardless of your own personal relationship with the higher power of your choice, it's hard to deny that some of the most important architecture is divinely inspired. This basilica, beautifully topped with striking blue roofs, exemplifies this point as well as any structure.

Parcel Police

Courtesy Post office / Police depot by Maciej Drwięga

Over by the train tracks - (BTT) Every so often the post office raises the cost of a stamp by a penny, and every time they do people get in a panic as if the idea of something increasing in price over the years is unique to the evil mind of the Postmaster General. The ability to stuff any document in an envelop and have it delivered by hand to any address throughout the entire country in no doubt worth 45 cents, but now they want 46 cents!? Truly this is an injustice for the ages! This charming little building has the right idea - should any irate customer throw a tantrum about a service that still costs less than a gumball, all that the great employees of the post office need to do is knock on the party wall and the neighboring police will rush in to help defuse the situation. 

The Woman and the Window

Courtesy Brick Noir by Ru Corder

Bleak Boulevard - (BTT) The light is still on in the office of the hardboiled detective currently residing in this gritty piece of the urban streetscape. A femme fatale, her hat hiding her eyes almost as well as her words hide her true intentions, just stepped through the scarlet door to the misty alley beyond. Beyond these walls, as grey as the perpetually raining skies, the two seem to have entered a business arrangement that just reeks of trouble and cigarettes. Best keep that revolver (and umbrella) close.

Coming Up Clutch

Courtesy Coveted Clutch by kjw010

SoHo, Manhattan - (BTT) It's quite the dilemma. Do you just go to Canal Street and haggle for a "genuine" Louis Vuitton handbag, hoping against hope that no one looks too close at the tag and crossing your fingers that you'll never need to carry more than 3 ounces of stuff at once or risk the bottom from falling out? Or do you bite the bullet, walk those few blocks north, and invest in something quality made. Coveted Clutch, housed in this stately monochromatic masterpiece, features all the designer handbags you can shake a credit card at; upstairs lives the designer herself, the pastel interiors playing well off the dark grey street facade.

Psi of Relief

Courtesy Psychiatrist Office by kjw010

Neuro Alley - (BTT) Besides the odd couch-jumping actor, I think we can all agree that mental health is as important as physical health, and those who dedicate their lives to the field are certainly worthy of respect. They are also worthy of having a great building in which to practice, and the doctor in this psychiatrist office has just that. The palette might be simple - mostly grey with just a tasteful touch of green - but the detailing is anything but. On the first floor is the receptionist, while upstairs is the actual office with a rather angry athlete currently taking his spot on the couch.

Back From The Dead

Apology Avenue - (BTT) It's been a looong time. Far from being abducted by aliens or going on a secret government assignment to save the world from some genetic experiment gone wrong, alas these two months off are for a far less worthy reason - I've been busy playing with plastic bricks. I'm guessing I'm not alone, though. What started as one week off turned to two turned to many more, and I do humbly apologize for the complete lack of updates. I know many of you have been checking in regularly only to leave without your Lego architecture fix, and to that I say sorry and thank you for your patience.

As a small consolation, I submit below a peek at my own latest creations - two cast iron inspired modulars that those who live in or around the NYC area can currently see in the flesh by visiting the Lego Store at Rockefeller Center - they should remain there through November. These were originally done as part of ILUGNY's stunning display at the recent New York Comic Con, but sadly only the grey one was ready in time.

Courtesy Cast Iron District by sonicstarlight

If you created a stunning project that you feel was unfairly ignored in the BTT hiatus, or if you want to nominate someone else's work for consideration, please email me, send me a flickr mail, or just respond to this topic. Again, thank you all for your continued support - it really is appreciated.

Awe-Inspiring

Courtesy Home Insurance Building by gordangrguric

Home Insurance Building, Chicago, Illinois- (BTT) Words barely have the power to describe the awe that I felt when I saw this MOC. Sure, many have successfully built skyscrapers before (DecoJim), but even those haven't made my jaw drop as it did on this one. The way all of the windows are in different states of shading, jut as in real life, the stonework, and even the fantastic colouring are all things to gawk at. Another amazing point is that it breaks up into 60 (!) modules, for easy transport, of course! Above all of that, since the building was demolished years ago, all he had to go off of were some black and white pictures on the Internet. Talk about a Herculean feat!

Also, this is the beginning to a great week of programming, starting tomorrow, and continuing until next Sunday, or indefinitely!

Centrum Excentrum

Courtesy Vasby Centrum by Skrytsson

Stockholm, Sweden- (BTT) If all malls in Sweden look like this, I'm just going to pick up and move tonight. Actually, this is a model of a mall's front, built for a display by AwesomeProject. The building itself is great, but it's only the beginning of the model. The brickwork, wastebasket, signage, curved window, and glass skylight all scream "Mall", while still being interesting and visually appealing. If only their prices were as amazing as this building!

Olde English

Courtesy Blencathra by Derfel Cadarn

Stratford-upon-Avon, England- (BTT) For hundreds of years, stone was the way to go for buildings- it lasted, it didn't rot, it was easily stacked, and was readily available. In England, stonework seemed to be particularly favoured in medieval times. And although the stonework on this MOC is simply brilliant, it's not the only feature that catches your eye. The garden with ivy attaching itself to the walls, the chimney poking its head out of the roof, and the slate roof are all details of great note. Why, it wouldn't be too far of a stretch of the imagination to think of a famous playwright living here, or nearby!

If the Shoe Fits...

Courtesy Star Athletic Shoe Shop by L. G. Orlando

1 Towncenter Drive- (BTT) According to the shop's catalogues and weekly inserts, Spring has sprung, and what better time to trade out that grimy pair of sneakers at home for a fresh, shiny and new pair? When you've got a hankering for slightly overpriced footwear, stop at the beautiful Star Footwear and Apparel shop. From the amazingly well-executed shoe sign on the second floor, to the professional-quality stickers, L. G. Orlando crams about as much detail as anyone would care to try to add to his open-backed buildings. This one is no exception.