I've seen the Pet Shop in person

I've been at BrickMagic in Raleigh, NC this weekend. Yesterday around 1:50 PM, the Pet Shop was officially unveiled. My photography skills remain a bit poor, but I did get some photos of details that I haven't seen elsewhere, like the storm cellar. I can also confirm that the color of the Pet Shop is indeed sand blue.

I'll be able to take more photos today and on Sunday - let me know if there are any angles you'd like me to try to get. Word is that LEGO stores everywhere will be allowed to sell these on Tuesday (naturally, the day after our convention discounts expire). You can see my photos from BrickMagic (including the Pet Shop and several great town and train layouts) in my BrickMagic 2011 flickr set.

The Street of Half-Size Sets Grows

Remember the half-size Cafe Corner? How about the half-size Fire Brigade? What about the half-size Green Grocer?

Wait, we didn't blog that last one yet. Puddleglum snuck that one past us earlier this month. Here's a photo:



I think you see where this is going. Here's a half-size Grand Emporium, courtesy of Puddleglum:

A City Block

As much as I like the individual buildings we usually think about when talking about modular building, I'm beginning to think that complete city blocks are sometimes more appropriate for group layouts. There's something special about being able to point to a coherent section and say "I built all of that". Take this block, for example:

Photos courtesy of LUKY'S 1987 LEGO CREATIONS's flickr photostream

That's two opposite corners of the same city block. 

A Museum is in the Works

Two great creations from shutinc's flickr photostream - click the titles for full photosets. His first is the Luxury shop and apartment.

[WIP] Museum of wax: The majestic look to this thing is just perfect for that museum look.

That last one is supposedly still a work in progress, but it already looks fantastic. There's already an excellent interior:

A Street in Europe

from Vincent Kessels's flickr photostream - from Fanwelt 2010

CC House Flower Shop

from the CC House Flower Shop set in Xenyo_BrickMaster (Christian Veigl)'s flickr photostream.

Collectible Minifigures

Collectible Minifigures are popular. Here are two Cafe Corner inspired display ideas for them:

City Museum, from Olly's Brickshelf gallery:


Brent Waller decided to go with a corner Costume Shop:

Some Recent Flickr Finds

Some more goodies showing up lately on flickr:

from Bruno Vaiano's flickr photostream


from 973 Praf / Toby Gentle's flickr photostream

For some more rural inspiration, check out this bridge and landscaping:

from yoderism2's flickr photostream

Corner Teahouse Gotham City

from RighteousSquid's Brickshelf gallery

Dark Tan Corner

from 99mickey_mouse99's flickr photostream

Port Seaside

I don't know how it happened, but lgorlando managed to post something without it immediately getting blogged here. Here it is now:

from lgorlando's Flickr photostream

The Persian Arms Apartments

from Rob Bender's flickr page

Mario Street Corner

from Noro's Brickshelf Gallery

Recent Models

A few interesting creations I've seen lately:


Lionheart Villa, from marcosbessa's flickr set


A Model Train Shop from Puddleglum's flickr set


Lighty And Llow Antiques Treasure Shop from nemesjs's Brickshelf gallery (the exterior is largely the Green Grocer redone in light yellow, but the interior really makes this model)