Did you know that Minilanders go to school? I didn’t.

Apparently Igor Makarov thinks so. He built “Miniland’s classes.” There are a bunch of great techniques and parts usage throughout the whole model. The lettering in the background is particularly ingenious. Great job Igor!

Dear J-

It is turning out that we need to top the tops in order to keep her entertained; we spent the day at Legoland — indeed, nearly the whole day (six hours, which in toddler time is close to a week), including an hour spent in line for a two-minute ride (was it worth it? only to say that you went, I suppose). I can’t even remember the name of the ride, it was that unremarkable; though the wait went pretty well, I can’t help but think that it’s got a lot to do with where we were — someplace different than the usual Zoo-Sea World routine.

I’ll be the first to admit that we go to the Zoo a lot; I have done my best to mix up routes and animals, but there’s a limited number of ways to get from front to back and out again. Certain places have more meaning as a railing to hang from or a sculpture to climb on, rather than a certain animal; there’s a strange sort of injustice when the back yard and local canyons are less familiar than Tiger River, say.

This is the third time we’ve been to Legoland — the first time well back in 2004, I asked my brother, who we went with, how he was able to do it: weekend after weekend, taking the kids out all day long, running back and forth, arms down and up laden with sleepy DNA. It was a few hours in, that rainy June day, that I started to question whether I’d have the energy to ever chase children the same way. It’s taken five years to come up with a good answer, but here we are tonight, satisfied but not exhausted, thrilled and amazed as always, having spent the day in good company.

Mike

Happy Thanksgiving for all of those out there that celebrate it, happy Thursday for all of you that don’t.

If you weren’t able to visit your local LEGO Store this month (like me) I thought I’d show you what it was — a mini turkey. By looking at the picture and what pieces were used, you should be able to figure the model out.

At least that was what the model here in the States and in Germany was, the UK had a pair of firecrackers.

Also LEGO.com has a set of 12 Christmas Model PDFs you can download. Here are my three favorites. Enjoy.

Although I self-published my first book “How to Build a Round Ball with Square Bricks!” last year it has only been available in one format — until now.

For all of you out there that prefer a digital copy the PDF version is now available for $8.95.

Learn how to build like the Pros! Written by a former LEGO® Master Model Designer, this series of books teaches kids of all ages the tips and tricks used in LEGO Model Shops all over the world. In this book learn one of the most asked about techniques — the Ball! See Mariann and Kevin take you from concept to a complete brick sphere. Also includes step-by-step instructions for an 18-stud LEGO ball. Packed with full color pictures and easy to understand instructions, learn LEGO building in a whole new way! 30 pgs

You can order the printed book and other products at my online store.

My second book “Beyond the Ball” will be available soon, so stay tuned . . .

Sorry about the late mention of this guys and gals. For all of you that live across the pond in the UK you have the chance to become a LEGO Master Model Builder working at the new LEGOLAND Discovery Centre that is opening up in March of 2010.

DO YOU HAVE THE BRICK FACTOR?

SEE YOUR MODELS IMMORTALIZED FOREVER IN LEGO

OPEN auditions are being held at The Lowry Hotel on 27 November 2009 for a position as model builder at the new LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.

Faced with millions of LEGO bricks when they arrive, auditionees will need to show how skilled they are at building LEGO models by creating an animal model in just fifteen minutes. The successful builders will then pass to the second stage of the auditions when they will need to create a famous face out of LEGO.

The audition aims to find a potential model builder who is skilled enough to be responsible for developing new features, exhibitions and building new models as well as working with the thousands of children expected to visit the attraction.

Neil Crittenden, general manager of LEGOLAND Discovery Centre said: We are holding open auditions to find the most talented and enthusiastic model builders. It is an unusual job available and we hope to meet some LEGO fanatics from the North West. We are looking for someone with a great sense of fun and though that holding an open audition would be the ideal way to find the perfect candidate.

The exciting new role will be based at the unique indoor attraction opening in March 2010.

Described as stepping into the biggest box of LEGO in the world, the attraction will host a unique MINILAND, which the successful model builder will need to create and maintain, as well as a number of other features including offer an exciting themed ride, a tour of a LEGO factory where children can help make their own LEGO brick. Plus there will be lots of opportunities to create their own models, race LEGO cars and areas for birthday parties.

The auditions will be held in meeting room seven and eight from 10am – 5pm at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester.

Auditionees need to register in advance by emailing register@legolanddiscoverycentre.com

The tryouts are this Friday, and you need to preregister online. So ramp up your building skills and try out.

Even though its not quite Thanksgiving yet, LEGOLAND California is already decked out for Christmas.

Master Model Builders trimmed the Christmas tree in front of the Capitol in Miniland USA this morning in preparation for LEGOLAND California’s Holly Jolly Holidays presented by Western Dental kicking off Nov. 30 following the annual tree lighting ceremony.

The Miniland Washington, D.C. Inauguration scene has been replaced by a LEGO® interactive marching band wearing green and white uniforms with festive red sashes. The animated band marches back and forth while playing “Jingle Bell Rock” and a familiar “ho-ho-ho” can be heard when Park guests push buttons cueing different sounds of the season. Holly wreaths have also been added to the eaves of the Capitol above a 20-inch-tall LEGO Christmas tree trimmed with more than 500 ornaments. Nearby, a line of minilanders wait to sit on a mini Santa’s lap while carolers sing on the Capitol steps. Other holiday models include children building snowmen, an elf workshop, a horse drawn carriage, toy soldiers and, of course, presents under the tree.

The entire theme park is being transformed into a holiday wonderland featuring vibrant holiday decorations including a new LEGO snowman complete with top hat and black coat tails that stands 5-feet tall, features 37,000 LEGO bricks and took nearly 200 hours to build. Children may also pose with a special life-size LEGO display of Santa, his sleigh and two reindeer. The 7-foot tall display features 51,100 bricks and provides a unique photo opportunity during the holidays.

LEGOLAND California’s Holly Jolly Holidays starts with a bang with its annual tree lighting ceremony Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. featuring special guests Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott and a performance by one the hottest children’s entertainment groups, The Jumpitz™. Spelling and McDermott are currently in production for the fifth season of their popular and record-breaking reality series “Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood,” scheduled to premiere in Spring, 2010 on Oxygen.

The world’s largest LEGO Christmas tree stands more than 30-feet-tall, is made of more than 245,000 forest green DUPLO® bricks, adorned with more than 240 LEGO ornaments and surrounded by packages and LEGO friends the whole family can enjoy.

LEGOLAND California’s Holly Jolly Holidays runs through Dec. 31 and guests can enjoy festive entertainment every weekend including carolers, strolling musicians and nightly fireworks Dec. 26 through Dec. 30. From Dec. 3 through Dec. 24, a child will randomly be selected to help pull the switch that lights up the LEGO Christmas tree during a fun ceremony right before the Park closes each night.

Also, the sparkling musical “Let it Snow” returns with exciting songs, dancing and a holiday story to warm guest’s hearts. The musical holiday show features the Park’s signature song, “Season of Imagination” and runs every weekend from Nov. 27 through Dec. 13 and daily Dec. 19 through Dec. 25.

The holiday season concludes with the one-and-only Kids’ New Year’s Eve party in southern California on Dec. 31 with festivities beginning at 4 p.m. For more information on the LEGOLAND theme park, event schedules, hours and prices visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO.

Christmas was one of my most favorite times at LEGOLAND. I was the one that decorated and designed the scenes in Miniland at Christmas for 4 years. You can even see the candy canes I designed in the picture.

So, if you are in the area, stop by and check out LEGOLAND for their Holly Jolly Holidays celebration.

Have you ever wanted to make a life-sized LEGO car? Europe seems to be the land of giant LEGO models what with James May’s full scale house and the Giant LEGO Man that washed ashore in the Netherlands, it just seems to happen.

Now it Germany, they’ve made the next life size model — a BMW X2.

As everyone who has played with the famous colored bricks knows, with LEGO, nothing is impossible. Not even a full-size replica of a BMW X1 that was created by 800 children aged between 5 and 13 years old (with a little help from the Bavarian automaker’s staff of course) who visited the BMW Welt in Munich last week. The build of the yellow-colored X1 took four days and approximately 165,000 LEGO bricks to complete.

Although not as smooth looking as the LEGO Volvo XZ90 that was made over in the Enfield, Connecticut Model Shop, it still is really impressive. Especially because the XZ90 was made by Master Model Builders and took 3 months to make.

You can see more pictures of the event here.

Creating a realistic LEGO face is one of the harder aspects of building sculpture. When I was working at LEGOLAND this was unfortunately one type of sculpture that I didn’t get a chance to do much of. So last week I decided to brush up on my skills by creating this.

The model took me about 6-8 hours. I honestly don’t know the exact time. Making the face have a good expression and “life” is the trickiest part. And of course working in the size of 6″ also was a fun challenge. I used a lot of jumpers to get the face right and used almost all of my 1×1 plates to design the hair.

She will most likely appear in an upcoming book or two. The model is a stylized sculpture of my online avatar Model Gal.

Name: Peter Steinman

Age: 20

Year: Sophomore

From: Huntington  Beach, California

Major: Entrepreneurial Business

What’s your favorite class? Definitely, Professors Jackson’s Project Execution. It helps me to realize how much planning and work goes into a single event. I’m working with another business student to put on the Senior Student Appreciation Dinner — which is going on, tomorrow, wow, that’s so soon! I never realized how much stuff can go wrong — I tend to be a guy who likes to plan things out, but have never gone the whole ten yards. This class has helped me to carry everything out in its entirety.

Do you have any hobbies? Going camping on a regular basis and sailing! It’s so great to live in San Diego… within 15 minutes you can be in downtown SD, at a number of fantastic beaches, Legoland, Seaworld, and a bunch of other cool stuff.  On the weekends, sometimes I’ll head out with a group of students to Cardiff Beach to go surfing.

Do you participate in any Student Life? I’m the Chaplin in Student Government, something which I enjoy immensely. I’m also involved in a number of clubs at the school such as the,  The Anime Club and the Business Club. In the Business club we watch “Shark Tank” and “Dragon’s Den”, two commercialized business pitching shows.  Afterward, we always have some great discussions about the young entrepreneurs on the show by trying to figure out both the flaws and positives of their business plan. It’s a really great learning tool for our future jobs.

What is your favorite thing about JP Catholic? The location! Also,  it’s really easy for me to go home since I’m only an hour away.  Another thing great about JP Catholic is the community life. I love being at a small school because of the close friendships and dynamic fellowship which we all share. Lastly, it’s awesome being able to attend mass every day and having the adoration chapel within a few feet from my classroom.

Plans after graduation?
As far as after I graduate,  basically two rough idea have been playing around in my head. The two I’m spearheading currently is a nightclub or a record company. “House” is the name of the night club I’ve been working on. The name is due to the fact that I want to give college students the experience to go to a house party without having to compromise their safety or morals. I love parties, but the party is no longer fun when things get out of hand.

To honor Vietnam Veterans LEGOLAND California has added a new scene to Miniland Washington D.C.

It took six people approximately 60 hours to build the mini Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The display is 10-feet-long and made of more than 2,000 LEGO bricks. True to the orientation of the real Vietnam Veterans Memorial in D.C., one wall in the Miniland Memorial faces the Lincoln Monument and one wall faces the Washington Monument. The scene depicts Miniland veterans and tourists visiting the memorial and even includes mini LEGO flowers laid in honor of those who served in Vietnam.

Instead of traditional LEGO brick, the wall is built using flat-faced plates stacked to give the illusion of the names that make the Vietnam Veterans Memorial so poignant.

The original Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. and honors members of the U.S. Armed Forces who fought in the Vietnam War and who died in service or are still unaccounted for. There are 58,261 names listed on the Memorial.

LEGOLAND California honors active duty and retired military year-round with special discount offers available only at military ticket offices. Military offers include free second day tickets and specially-priced annual passes. A 10 percent discount is also available daily at the LEGOLAND gate to all active duty and retired military and their dependents with valid Military I.D.

The Miniland Memorial joins many other monuments in Miniland Washington D.C. including the Iwo Jima Memorial, The Washington Monument and The Lincoln Memorial.

You can kind of get an idea of size by seeing Master Model Builder Gary McIntire kneeling next to it.

I think its kind of funny wording where it says they used “flat faced plates” instead of using “traditional LEGO brick.” The LEGO plate has been around for quite awhile (decades) and is as “traditional” as the average brick.

But other than that, it is a nice tribute to our Vietnam Veterans and a nice new scene for Miniland.

I’d like to add my own thanks to all those Veterans who have fought for freedom everywhere. Happy Veteran’s Day!

If you’ve been looking for the offical LEGO MP3 players, radios, and CD players and haven’t found them they are now available at LEGOLAND California. You can also see the prices.

Now that I’ve finally seen them in person they are okay, but frankly, I’d rather spend the money on actual LEGO than these. I’ve found as I have gotten older that I’m not as interested in everything LEGO.

I mean, I like the product, but I don’t need all of my gadgets, kitchenware, and bedding to reflect my love of the brick. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that either.)

$12 million Legoland planned for Grapevine Mills

BY ALESHIA HOWE
October 27, 2009

+ enlarge photo

A new $12 million entertainment venue soon will be built at Grapevine Mills shopping mall – in more ways than one – as the property has announced the addition of Legoland Discovery Centre, a two to three-hour indoor Lego experience.

The latest addition to Grapevine’s growing entertainment, shopping and educational venues was announced on Oct. 27.

Global leisure giant Merlin Entertainments will build the attraction as part of an aggressive worldwide growth strategy.

Work is expected to begin on the project in June 2010, with the Legoland Discovery Centre set to open in March 2011. Models for the Grapevine site will be made in Merlin’s specialist studios and shipped in during construction, although plans and designs are already being drawn up, according to a release. According to the announcement, Legoland Discovery Centre will offer an interactive and educational experience aimed at families with children 3-12 years old. Based on the Lego bricks, Legoland Discovery Centres provide a range of interactive play areas including 4D cinema; master classes from the Lego Master Model Builder; Lego rides; special party rooms for birthdays and other celebrations; as well as a Miniland exhibit

Merlin currently holds 59 attractions in its portfolio – eight of those in the United States including Legoland California and Legoland Chicago as well as Madame Tussauds attractions in New York, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and Hollywood, and a Sea Life aquarium alongside Legoland California and Underwater Adventures Aquarium in the Mall of America in Minneapolis. The Grapevine attraction is one of three Merlin projects set to open in 2010 and 2011.

“We believe Grapevine is exactly the right location for a Legoland Discovery Centre,” said Glenn Earlam, managing director of Merlin’s Midway Attractions Operating Group, which includes the LDCs, in a release. “It is ideally situated between Dallas and Fort Worth, and is already a popular destination for family visitors.”

Grapevine Mayor William D Tate said the attraction will “become one of the most unique and best family attractions in Texas. In developing Grapevine as a top destination city, we have pursued very unique and exclusive attractions and hotels. Clearly Merlin Entertainments is one of the best visitor attraction companies in the world, and the Legoland Discovery Centre will be recognized as a unique and integral part of Grapevine’s visitor appeal.”

Simon Property Group, which is working with Merlin Entertainments on a number of projects in the USA, helped to facilitate the deal.

Original story here.

You’ve seen Stormtrooper costumes and you might have even seen LEGO brick costumes, but have you ever seens a Stormtrooper LEGO brick costume?

I’m not sure exactly where this image came from (it was linked to me via Facebook), I wish I knew so that I could give them credit, but here is a rather unique Halloween costume.

To me, dressing up as either of these things seems like a rather uncomfortable costume, but put them both together and it just looks rediculous!

I meant to post something on Halloween, but I was too busy enjoying the holiday at LEGOLAND’s Brick or Treat. So, Happy (late) Halloween and I hope you all had a fun time and didn’t eat too much candy.

Während heute morgen ein dicker Nebel die Stadt versteckte, versuchte die Sonne, Herr über die Lage zu werden.

Da ich eh nichts machen konnte, hatte ich angefangen, meine Tüte, die ich aus dem Legoland mitgebrachte, zu sortieren.

Bilder: T.R. aka Wortman

Topsy Techie and Firefly Mom have been participating in dueling field trips. Now, I have no beautiful pictures for you, partly because, try not to fall out of your chair, my beloved DSLR is in the shop. I have been using the iPhone camera and it leaves much to be desired (do you hear that Apple, add a DSLR app, will ya? There’s no app for that). So, I have for field trip #1 some decidedly on the bad side of so-so pictures and for field trip #2 some I’m not even posting, why did I bother, what is that? pictures.

On Monday, we went to one of James’ most beloved places – Legoland. And honestly, I didn’t take pictures of most of it. Want to see what it looks like? Here’s a link. If you happen to live in Southern California, or if you’re visiting in the non-summer season and are a homeschooler, sign up here for a coupon for you and 5 of your family members to get in for $21 each ($25 if you wish to go to the aquarium) plus $12 parking. You can download an educational guide and attend classes, depending on the age of your child (an honest moment, we have never gotten there early enough for the classes but I’m sure they are great). Legoland is really best for the under 10 crowd and is not at all set up for a mom and two toddlers (no rides can be ridden by three people, even if two of them are small).

What I did take pictures of is the aquarium; we hadn’t been before, although I think it’s been open for about a year. It’s a small aquarium, but for $4 a person, it was well worth it. James was given a card that had multiple choice scratch offs on it, about 10 questions to find the answers through the aquarium. It would be, and was, fun exactly once.

There were lots of bubbles like this one:

You would think they made good photo opportunities. I can’t really comment (see above about my real camera), but there was glare. They were fun though, a quite interactive aquarium, without lots of touching (some, but not a lot). Keep in mind, it’s very small. If you are paying whatever extravagant price they normally charge, I’m quite certain it’s not worth it. I feel this way about Legoland in general. It’s outrageously expensive to get in if you don’t have some sort of discount (I just checked  – $65 for an adult, $55 for a child  without the aquarium - Yikes!).

O.k., field trip #2, another favorite place, and one that we will likely get to at least once more before the end of the year Discovery Science Center . My mom gave us passes for Christmas last year (we had passes two years ago as well). The best part about this science center is every month they have new exhibits, so every time we go, we’re seeing something new. We went Friday night for a member event (Halloween based, Spooky Science/ Dia de los Muertos) and James won first place in the costume contest. Yes, I know Ami, you want a picture. I am determined to get something decent on or before Halloween. The only problem with the museum is how busy it is. I always feel lucky when we get there and have some space. I rarely go in the summer – craziness! Except for summer, I’ve tried to go once a month when we have the passes, so we can catch the changing of the exhibits. I plan to go in early December to see the Gingerbread one, a favorite and call it a year well spent. Thanks, mom!

Next week, we have two more field trips planned, neither ones we have done before. Hopefully, I’ll get some good pictures. Stay tuned!

The LEGO Board Games won’t be available in the States till next year, but considering the season, I figured I’d post this very timely set. Over at Eurobricks Oky Wan Kenobi has posted a review of Monster 4.

The back of the box

The board game after you build it

A close up of the heads

I really like the different heads and the built spider (although he does only have 6 legs). Also, if you notice on the front of the box that the spider has 1×1 round plates with a hole in the middle. This is a new piece. I don’t know if this will replace existing 1×1 round plates, hopefully it will be in addition too. I can see some good uses for that piece already. And of course it comes with the new dice piece.

The one thing this set doesn’t have is any of the Microfigs that I mentioned in a previous post.

I finally got a chance to look at the Microfig at my SandLUG meeting last week. Andy Grubb, one of LEGOLAND’s Master Model Builders had bought the new set Creationary when he was in Denmark recently.

Although they have been tried in the past, the new LEGO Board Games seem to have been better thought out and better packaged. They certainly peaked my interest from the first time I saw them and I look forward to purchasing at least a few of them when they come out.

Wortman Proudly Presents: Lego – Venedig!
Die Detailtreue in allen Bereichen ist mehr als genial

Bilder: T.R. aka Wortman

Our annual trip to Legoland today, to see the fireworks (and go on a few rides to, of course). This was the first trip where Boy Lacer was actually keen about it and we actually managed to get him on a ride, for the first ever time, to any theme park / fair ground. It was the Balloon School ride, rather tame, it’s a circle of gondaliers attached to ‘balloons’, that goes round and round and up and down, rather slowly. Luckily, thanks to our carer card, we had hand stamps that got us access to the ride straight away (queuing would have given him plenty of opportunity to change his mind), we got on, the ride started and oh the poor love, he was being brave but I could tell he really wasn’t enjoying it and when we got off he was ’shaky’ as if he’d just got off a terrifying rollercoaster, for minutes afterwards. So after that, was he going to go on another ride? Oh no! Mr. Lacer and Girl Lacer went off on a couple of rides and me and Boy Lacer went to Miniland, the little mini buildings, trains, cars etc and he loves those, obsessively. So lots of standing around in drizzle, as Boy Lacer stared at each scene, for _ a _ very _ long _ time. ‘Luckily’ (well not really, it is his favourite, so it was a shame it was broken) the tube train was broken, although the man trying to fix it was stared at for a while, then it was over to the docks scene, complete with trains, bliss for him and for every other obsessive little boy in the vicinity, I was all prepared for a fight to break out (it did last year, at the tube scene). But eventually I managed to drag him away and we happen to wander past the traffic zone, Boy Lacer sees the bigger kid driving school “I want to do that!”, he was way too young (chronologically and developmentally) but luckily they have a younger version, but even so, in the younger version, you deposit your child in the tiny motorised car and leave them to it. Could he do it? Would he understand? Would he freak out when I left him in? I strapped him in and walked to the exit, watching over the fence and he didn’t freak out, he needed a little prompting from the ride assistants to keep his foot on the pedal, so he’d keep moving and the occasional help with steering, but so did a lot of the other little kids, I was so blinking proud, lump in the throat time.

After that, me and Mr. Lacer swopped roles and I went off and queued with Girl Lacer whilst we went on the boating school and driving academy rides. Mr. Lacer and Boy Lacer went on the train and the digger activity. After that and a picnic tea of tomato swirls (puff pastry, cheese and tomato things, really nice, the recipe is in the I Can Cook section of the CBeebies website), we went to see the fireworks. Whilst we waited for the fireworks to start, the kids danced to music played over the speakers. This year they had an Indiana Jones theme, I love all things Indy, it’s my all time favourite film series, so that was great, fantastic fireworks to a theme of music from the series. Legoland always do extremely good fireworks, they’ve obviously got a massive budget, has put us off our local municipal fireworks for years!

Wenn Wortman eine Reise macht, dann harkt er die Städte ruckzuck hintereinander ab.

Start: Münchner Flughafen

Frankfurt

Berlin

Amsterdam

Luzern

Venedig

Wie das alles möglich war?
Wortman und seine Maus waren heute hier:

Legoland Günzburg

Uns beiden hat das Miniland “Venedig” so gut gefallen, dass ich allein davon rund 50 Bilder gemacht hatte. Werde die Tage noch einmal einen extra Beitrag machen nur über das Legoland-Venedig.

Insgesamt habe ich fast 350 Bilder gemacht und natürlich konnte ich nicht widerstehen und habe dort im Shop einen Haufen Einzelteile gekauft.

Bilder: T.R. aka Wortman

Just when you think LEGO can’t surprise you, they throw you a curve ball. According to Variety Reality TV producer Scott Messick is in talks to create “several different types of reality shows related to the brand – including docuseries, competition shows and kid-oriented gamers.”

“Lego seemed like such a powerful brand, and I don’t think they were thinking about reality TV,” said Messick, who is exec producer of Cartoon Network’s “Destroy Build Destroy.”

Messick’s development exec suggested he set up a meeting with the Lego licensing and entertainment team. Lego has been busy extending its brand into the entertainment realm, including a live-action movie in development at Warner Bros. (Daily Variety, Aug. 11). Jill Wilfert, Lego’s veep of licensing and entertainment, is driving the push into film and TV.

“They were focused on their feature business, but (Wilfert) liked the idea of going into reality,” Messick said.

The producer spent time with the company learning about the fandom surrounding Lego – such as three Connecticut-based Lego Masters, who travel the world building massive sculptures for the company out of Legos. Messick is developing a docuseries surrounding them.

He’s also looking at creating a gameshow based on a line of Lego board games that are already out in Europe and will soon go on sale in the U.S.

At his disposal is the Legoland theme park, where a competition/ elimination show could be based, he said.

“They have some great ideas regarding programming that captures and showcases the inherent creativity at the core” of Lego, Wilfert said.

Messick would exec produce any Lego project through his Mess Media banner. Wilfert would get an exec producer credit.

I can see this going two ways. Either it will be as successful as Ace of Cakes or it could be a horrible bomb.

I think it would be fun to watch a show about the Model Builders, being one myself there were several times that it would have been cool to show people what really goes on behind the scenes. That is if the guys over at the Connecticut Model Shop want to do something like that. Knowing them personally, they are a pretty entertaining group.

D stands for a combination of Danish and Disney itineraries, a birthday trip that we are planning to Disneyland with a Danish stop in Solvang, maybe a brick-or-treat too and other SOCAL gems.

First destination is S O L V A N G. This is the Danish Capital of US, set your GPS to Solvang, CA 93463, 1683 Copenhagen Drive. I always liked this place, and every visit to the little Hans Christian Andersen museum tucked upstairs in The Book Loft Building is enchanting. Somehow I always find something exciting here, refreshing for an almost 100 year old place. We never stayed overnight in Solvang though, and one time when later hours got us still there I remember that the town went silently to sleep. So I was looking for things to do in the late afternoon and stumbled upon an event that will make our young jewellery designer so happy: Meet John Kennedy and create a custom jewel

MORE SOLVANG ATTRACTIONS, PLACES, MAP and WALKING MAP:

• ELVERHØJ MUSEUM OF HISTORY & ART
• Danish Days in Solvang
• Hans Christian Andersen Park
• Sunny Fields Park
• O S T R I C H L A N D

DENMARK FOR KIDS:

• Meet the Kids!
• DENMARK FOR KIDS
• EXPLORE DENMARK!
• Visit Denmark: Great things to do with children in Denmark
• National Geographic Traveler : 48 HOURS IN COPENHAGEN
• dwell : DETOUR : Copenhagen, Denmark

Next destination, LOS ANGELES WITH KIDS!
With only little time it will be tough to choose, but here is a beginning of LA ITINERARIES and a shorter wishlist for this trip:

• Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
• A short time visit
• E. Hadley Stuart, Jr. Hall of Gems and Minerals
• Rancho La Brea Tar Pits, map
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art
• The Getty

We knew that LEGO history began in 1932 in Denmark and the name LEGO itself is a fusion of the Danish words “LEg” and “GOdt” (“play well”), but the Danes claim the inspiration for Disneyland comes from Tivoli Gardens too, so here’s another Danish destination in our itinerary

A good while back I had proposed the idea of making a segment on this blog called the Sunday Score. It didn’t really take off, but I still like the idea.. so I thought I would try again and see how it goes. Obviously this blog has changed a lot since I proposed that idea so I think the idea of what I want out of this segment has changed too. Basically I just want to share some awesome things that I’ve found in the week.

I also welcome submissions by people who are doing something they want to share (maybe a blog, maybe artwork, music, writing… I’m gonna leave this vague on purpose). So yeah, send me an e-mail from the address on my contact page and put Sunday score in the subject line and your stuff might get featured on the score.

The Google Trike

Most people have probably long ago discovered the street view feature in Google maps. One of the developers on the street view team decided it would be fun to make some street views of places where cars cannot go. They created a trike with a big camera mounted in the back and started rolling. You can submit ideas of places they could make a street-view map of on the trike as well as view some of the views they’ve made already (including Legoland in California and the Monterrey bike trail).

This is Your Paradise

User Hoodwatch on livejournal has an amazing blog called This is Your Paradise.  It contains tons photographs of different places he visits. These include abandonded buildings, museums, festivals and more. Definitley worth a look.

Picture is from his flicker photostream and the property of Hoodwatch.

Memories of the Future

I’ve been following Will Wheaton’s blog for a while now and he just released the first volume in a new series of books called Memories of the Future. It’s sort of a humorous cometary on startreck the next generation, going through each episode one by one. He also has been kind enough, or awesome enough, to make a podcast about the book aptly named Memories of the Futurecast . The podcast is really fun to listen to, he reads exerts from the book and… well it’s just really great to listen to. Here’s the first episode of the podcast (link to download it is at the bottom of the post before the comments).

Well that’s it for this week. See you next time.