BayLUG, the Bay Area LEGO Users’ Group, had its second in-person, indoor club meeting since the pandemic started on October 8th in San Leandro. I was anxious about the in-person meeting, but I went anyway, and even took my N95 mask off to eat once or twice. Not everyone was as paranoid as I was, but as far as I know, nobody got sick from attending the meeting which is the important thing. Anyway, it was great to see and hang out with other humans again, which is pretty novel for me these days, despite having all my shots. I am looking forward to more such gatherings in the future.
Bill Ward
BayLUG July 2022 Tailgate Meeting
The BayLUG meeting at the church in San Leandro was changed at the last minute to being a “tailgate meeting” in the parking lot (like the one in April) due to the rise of new COVID-19 variants and concerns of several members (including me) about the safety and ableism of holding indoor events.
Brick Geometry at Bricks by the Bay 2022
I’ve updated my Brick Geometry Presentations page to include the PDF from my talk given today at Bricks by the Bay in Santa Clara, CA.
BayLUG May 2022 Meeting
Ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, BayLUG‘s meetings have been virtual (on Zoom) with the exception of two meetings held in the parking lot of the church in San Leandro (including the April meeting). This is the first time we’ve had a meeting indoors and I was very nervous about going, but I went anyway.
BayLUG April 2022 Tailgate Meeting
This past Saturday April 30th I attended my first meeting of balug since the start of the pandemic. We’ve had plenty of online meetings over Zoom and the club has had at least one other meeting in person before (also outdoors) but this was the first one I have attended.
I’m still here
What do you say when you haven’t been doing anything to talk about? I haven’t built any new LEGO models in a while … somehow over the course of the pandemic my work area where I built stuff has become a collection pile for junk! But I’m really excited about the new season of LEGO Masters coming up next month, and hoping to watch the Australian show which just started this month as well.
BrickCon 2021
I just finished attending the first ever hybrid (both in-person and online) LEGO convention, BrickCon 2021.
BrickCon Presentation Video
My presentation from last October’s BrickCon event is now available for viewing online. They’ve posted this as well as plenty of other great talks from that event for public viewing. Check them all out! Hopefully this year BrickCon can be held in person… in the meantime stay safe and stay healthy!
Birds on a Clock
LEGO set 21301 “Birds” from 2015 is a great model, and I found a new place to display it.
Advent 2020
2020 was the year I chose to only do the City Advent Calendar – no Friends, Star Wars, or Harry Potter. I wrote about that decision in a separate post. As usual, each post was originally a separate blog entry, starting with Day 1, and continuing with a daily post about that day’s advent models. However, to clean up the site, I’ve condensed all those daily posts to a single post per year. Here’s the 2020 edition.
Why I’m only doing the City Advent Calendar this year
Over the past few years I have followed a tradition of blogging each of the LEGO Advent calendars every day from December 1st through 24th. I’d buy the 2, 3, or 4 calendars produced by LEGO that year, and each day during the lead-up to Christmas, I’d open that day’s models, and build, photograph, and blog about them. But this year I’ve decided to only do the City Advent Calendar 60268. (CW: Harry Potter)
New LEGO Conventions page
I’ve added a new page about LEGO Conventions to this site, with links to the conventions’ websites, and for the events I attended, all the trip reports / travelogues / photos I’ve posted on this site about them over the years.
Micropolis Octan Gas Station
In this model Octan provides fuel for Micropolis vehicles, and a taco truck provides sustenance for their drivers.
Micropolis Hospital
This hospital building is inspired by some old San Francisco General Hospital buildings from 1915. I built it a few years ago but like many of my models I haven’t gotten around to posting about it on my blog until much later. This was part of my Micropolis display featured in the Bricks by the Bay 2020 Virtual convention.
Micropolis Elevated Train Station
Inspired by my local BART station, this model provides for the public transit needs of the Micropolis population. It’s been the centerpiece of any of my Micropolis displays for a few years, and I’m finally getting around to posting here.
Micropolis Border
I built these border segments to provide a clean edge to my Micropolis display for the Bricks by the Bay 2020 virtual convention. Here you can see them on my home layout as I had it during the virtual convention.
Rainbow Apartments (Micropolis)
My latest model is a Micropolis apartment building in all the colors of the rainbow.
Bricks by the Bay 2020 Virtual
Yesterday, July 11, was the first-ever online edition of the Bricks by the Bay LEGO convention. I set up a MOC (“My Own Creation”) exhibit in my dining room, since we couldn’t meet up in person this year.
Play 101 Bricks with me at Bricks by the Bay Virtual
I’ll be hosting a game of 101 Bricks at the upcoming virtual Bricks by the Bay event. Sadly the pandemic rules out any in-person activities this year, but they’re having a Zoom-based online convention instead, next Saturday July 11th. It’s not too late to register, and it’s only $5 per household to attend!
House Concert
This musical family is performing a social-distance concert for their neighbors from their front porch and balcony in the time of COVID-19. Stay safe and stay home!
Black Lives Still Matter in 2020.
Reposted this model from 2016 on my Lego Instagram @billwardsbrickpile in honor of George Floyd. blacklivesmatter lego