Copenhagen LEGO Store Opening

Name of Event: The LEGO® Store København (Copenhagen), Denmark Grand Opening

Found at: http://stores.lego.com/en-us/Copenhagen/LandingPage.aspx

Details: A LEGO store opened recently in Copenhagen, Denmark. I'm not entirely sure how to explain this one - it's not like any of the other stores. It's not an "outlet", a "flagship store", a "discovery centre", or and "imagination center" either. This place has some phenomenal things, though - a giant Pick-A-Brick wall, enormous mosaics, large sculptures, and even a miniland-scale layout. It's also the first Denmark location where LEGO has a non-LEGOLAND park retail presence. The place is as exciting as it is hard to classify. Here's a round-up of the photos I've found so far: schioldannvoneyben's's flickr photos legosamlet's Brickshelf gallery eiker86's Brickshelf gallery More to come as we find it. As always, send your tips to legomodeloftheday@gmail.com

Mall of America LEGO Imagination Center Grand Reopening

Name of Event: Mall of America LEGO Imagination Center Grand Reopening

Found at: http://stores.lego.com/en-us/Minneapolis/location.aspx - the Mall of America LEGO Imagination Center

Details: This past weekend had that most unusual of events: a LEGO store Grand Re-opening. Many things about this are unusual: the location at the Mall of America has been a flagship store since 1992. It's been known as one of only two "Imagination Centers" (the other being the Downtown Disney location), and it hadn't seen a major renovation since 1998. Further, LEGO has decided NOT to have grand openings for other recently opened brand retail outlets - two stores in the UK have opened recently, but won't have any special events to celebrate their "Grand Opening" until after the holiday rush is over. This time out, the large sculptures around the store are specifically not based on the current product line (so they won't become dated as quickly). The highlight is the large sculpture pictured here, which is also depicted in the event kit (also pictured here). Here's the round-up (just a few links for now so we don't run any further behind, but there are more coming): Brickset's entry on the commemorative set Commemorative set instruction scans by TooMuchDew (Bill Toenjes) LaForzaDiMente's flickr photos (covering only a few of the new sculptures) Erik Knopp's 124 flickr photo set (+ another 69 photos of renovation in progress) Garth Danielson's 46 photo flickr set Max Braun 35 photo flickr set Nathan Stohlman's 35 photo flickr set

This is Saturday's model of the day

Classic Car Promo Kit (from the Troy, Michigan LEGO Store Opening)

Name of Model: LEGO Store Opening Promos

Photos by: Reasonably Clever Chris

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/reasonablyclever/sets/72157624865263569/with/5004695355/

Details: I'm not sure who actually designed today's model - it was a promotional kit for a LEGO store opening just outside Detroit. Every time a LEGO store opens, they have a different limited edition one-day-only first-so-many-people to spend $35 set to promote the store. Usually, there's also a child's size t-shirt for the event on the day without the event kit, and LEGO generally schedules a Master Builder build event for the weekend of the store's grand opening as well. LEGO has an official page for this new store, and if there's a LEGO store opening coming up near you, make sure to check out the opening weekend so you don't miss out on these goodies! The model itself features some mildly clever techniques - note the use of steering wheels as wheels on this model, and the use of a 1x1 brick with studs on all sides with some clear cheese slopes to make the lamp. While this isn't quite minifig scale (those seats are much too small for that even though this does come in at 6-studs wide), the wheel and lamp techniques are definitely worth "borrowing" for minifig-scale creations. Since this uses mostly common parts, you can try building your own with the instructions posted on flickr by Reasonably Clever Chris - who, by the way, is still running his popular Reasonably Clever webcomic (although with an unusual cast and plotline this week).

Mall of America Imagination Center Grand Opening Photos

Name of photo set: LEGO Imagination Center Grand Opening Aug 11, 1992

Photos by: Garth Danielson

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32515058@N02/sets/72157624540253918/with/4810157257/

Details: It's time to step into the time machine and have a look at LEGO's first retail outlet in the United States at it's grand opening in August of 1992. That's right - after 18 years, photos of the Grand Opening of the original LEGO Imagination Center at the Mall of America have finally surfaced. A full 75 of them are in this flickr set, covering what looks like most of the store. The displays featured a variety of sculptures representing both sets from (and in the case of the pseudo-futuron spacemen to the left, before) 1992 and completely original characters. The theme seems to be classic LEGO whimsy, with giant LEGO elements all over the place - but there are plenty of dinosaurs and spaceships there for good measure. Some things you see in these photos are still in the LEGO Imagination Center to this day, but others didn't last too long. See if you can spot some of the new for 1992 kits mixed in to the displays.

LEGO Store Ribbon Models for the Elmhurst, NY location - Grand Opening this Weekend!

Name of Photo Set: LEGO Store Brand Ribbon Models Elmhurst, NY

Built by: Models built by eclipsegrafx, Tim (Tim's son Spencer built a model as well), notenoughbricks and my wife and parents even helped build the boat models!, model designs by the LEGO company

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/notenoughbricks/sets/72157624418080968/

Details: I've previously written a bit about the LEGO store ribbon models, and since new stores are continuing to open, more are being built. The links above point to a gallery with 29 photos of ribbon models just after they were built. It's usually easier to get a good look at the models before they've been installed in the LEGO store, since the windows at the stores don't give you a particularly broad view. This weekend, there will be a Grand Opening and a Master Builder Event at the new store in Elmhurst, New York (that's what today's models were built for). Last weekend's events at Rockefeller Center were fairly epic, and I'm still updating the blog post about them with additional links to photos and other coverage of the weekend. Next week, LEGO will expand their newfound retail store empire further by opening their first brand retail store in Canada. Here's the full list of upcoming store openings from the official website (not sure why they haven't given more details or dates on these yet): -Houston Galleria, Houston, TX -Roosevelt Field Mall, Garden City, NY -Queens Center, Elmhurst, NY -Rockefeller Center, New York City, NY -Aventura Mall, Miami, FL -Wiesbaden, Germany -Chinook Centre, Calgary, AB, Canada Most new stores have a soft opening between when the ribbon models are assembled and when the grand opening actually takes place. If you're in town a week or two before a "grand opening", chances are you can go to the store and browse anyway. A store calendar for this month has more details on the Calgary opening.

Big Apple and More at NYC LEGO Flagship Store

Name of Page: New LEGO NY Store takes a bite out of the Big Apple

Created by various Master Builders for the LEGO company

Found at: http://modelbuildingsecrets.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/new-lego-ny-store-takes-a-bite-out-of-the-big-apple/

Details: This big apple (a play on New York's nickname) will be on display through next Tuesday at New York’s Rockefeller Center. The sculpture was built to commemorate the opening of a brand new LEGO store, which is open now. The store is a "flagship" store, which seems to be like the "Imagination Centers" we've seen sprout up elsewhere. Several smaller sculptures are in the store as permanent fixtures. There are more photos of the shop and sculpture at the recap linked above, alternately you can check out the official webpage for the new store (which has the location details so you can plan your trip). Rounding up additional photos and coverage: MovinOverTheMoon's flickr photos Vengeance of Lego's flickr photos jacquelinemortimer's flickr photos erockonvolks's flickr photos notenoughbricks' flickr photos (focused on the "ribbon"-style models that are unique to this location) Kinzcove's Brickshelf gallery

Minifig-scale LEGO Brand Retail Store

Name of Model: LEGO Store, Chandler Fashion Center 2010

Created by: Kevinhink

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinhink/sets/72157623787901063/

Details: The manager of the LEGO Brand Retail store in Chandler, Arizona, USA recently built this minifigure scale version of the store. It includes custom minifigs (made with decals) for each of the employees. Although the store shelves aren't filled in in much detail, the various kiosk shelves and the Pick-a-Brick wall do a very good job of making this match the iconic LEGO store look. All of the LEGO Brand Retail stores (in the US) are fairly standardized, so this should look pretty familiar to you if you've been to any LEGO Store.

LEGO Store Ribbon Models

Name of Models: LEGO Store Brand Ribbon Models

Designed by The LEGO Group, built by various LEGO fans.

Photos found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/notenoughbricks/sets/72157623533814881/

Details: A bit of background: at LEGO stores (the ones owned by the company - you'll occasionally hear these referred to as "LEGO Brand Retail"), there are a number of semi-permanent displays. One of the more popular bits actually has nothing to do with kits available to be bought, but is displayed at kids' eye level in little round windows designed to look like LEGO studs. Those displays, which go around the entire length of the store (most LEGO stores in the US have standard fixtures and displays) feature a number of fun and goofy models at a number of scales. All of these displays are designed by the company, but since LEGO knows that there are plenty of LEGO fans around who would be happy for the privilege to build a fairly permanent store display, the LEGO company generally doesn't assemble the models. I, personally, have been able to attend two "build parties" where the display models were assembled for LEGO stores that hadn't opened yet. The recent remodeling of brand retail stores in the US (which also meant the end of the Window Into The Community displays where LEGO stores would showcase the work of local builders) brought in additional ribbon models in many stores. While these models are frequently photographed and used for inspiration, few people who have built these models have had the foresight to take photographs of the models before they were returned to the company and put behind the store fixtures. Today, I'm featuring this set of 8 of the models - there's only one photo of each, but you can see why these are such interesting and exciting designs.

Impostors!

Impostors they are, indeed. I've seen several photos of a new brand of building bricks called "Ligao". Folks, this isn't just another MegaBloks or Tyco brand. This "Liagao" has produced sets that are virtual recreations of past Lego ones. The photo of the set to the right here is a mirror image of set #4954. And the set seen below is strikingly similar to set #4837. Go and check the photos out for yourself, see what you think.

Even with my poor understanding of the law, I'm thinking Lego may have a lawsuit on its hands.

Power Miners Impulse Sets at Target(s) in the US

Here's a treat (pun intended) for any Lego fan, young or old. Target has begun to carry the Power Miners impulse sets (there are two of them currently) in their (seasonal) Halloween section.

• http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8907-1
• http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Set=8908-1

At $3 a piece, it would be quite expensive to fill every kids candy bag in your neighborhood with one of these sets. However, the price is very reasonable once you consider what you are getting with these sets.

Target has been known to do this before, that is carry small impulse sets around holidays. For example, during Easter this year they carried the V-19 Torrent among other small Lego sets as basket stufers.

So, head out to you're local Target (if you have one nearby, and if you're in the US) and check out the seasonal section to see if they are carrying any of the Power Miners impulse sets.

Happy Halloween to all of you! (It is a bit early for that though.)