I went to high school in the 80’s. So things like the rise of MTV, Micheal Jackson, Madonna and Duran Duran are irretrievably interwoven with those most formative years, and I consider myself lucky. I was never much into pop music, but bands like Madness, Kraftwerk, Beastie Boys and Devo were on constant rotation in my Walkman. Another band was The Clash, brilliantly created here with their breakout hit Rock The Casbah by builder redfern1950s2. Their counterculture and social commentary lyrics resonated with my generation, and I still listen to them today. Original linkOriginal author: Tommy

Just yesterday the smell of gingerbread was strong in my house as we prepared three dozen gingerbread men for our son’s concert last night. It’s an aroma and taste that is absolutely intertwined with the holidays and one I look forward to every year. This inviting and delectable village by builder Deborah Higdon looks as delicious as it does seasonal, and evokes memories of scents, songs and the holiday spirit. Original linkOriginal author: Tommy

We’ve been seeing Young Kylo comics since The Force Awakens premiered, and the ones by famed Disney illustrator Brian Kesinger are by far my favorite. There’s a very intentional Bill Watterson Calvin & Hobbes vibe to them, and they’re adorable. Builder NS Brick Designs is clearly also a fan, and was inspired by the comic below to build this snow man in carbonite ornament, brilliant. Original linkOriginal author: Tommy

I see sci-fi vehicles pretty much every day (and mechs, so many mechs) so it takes something special to stand out. The color combination and unusual shape of this otherworldly vehicle by builder VolumeX caught my eye. And unless this thing is exploring an especially yellow planet, it’s going to stand out wherever it goes. Original linkOriginal author: Tommy

It’s only the beginning of December, but for those of us in the Midwest and Northeast, it’s felt like winter for a month now. My old pal Dave Kaleta has captured that moment of inertia, where you know you need to go and do something outside, but you really feel like staying inside, warm and cozy. I don’t know much about what it would be like if the weather were the same 75 degrees and sunny all the time, (Tommy) but I can certainly relate to this! Okay, Dave, time to get off your butt and go for a run! Original linkOriginal author: El Barto

The secret panel of judges have weighed in, the votes have been tallied and we have the winners of Nerdvember 2018. While they’re all amazing creations, and all winners in my book, there can be only three. So here they are, in order… FIRST PLACE - Nerdliocart by Clever Lego Reference A brilliant reference to Nintendo classic Mariocart. This eye catching and colorful MOC depicts Nerdly behind the wheel and racing his heart out. No idea what place he came in in the race, but for Nerdvember, he came in first. SECOND PLACE - Competition Nerd Joystick (VIC-20) by voxel123 This is one for the retro gaming and computing fans. The Commodore VIC-20 was the first computer for many families in the early 80’s, and one of the best things about it was playing games. And what better way to abuse your thumbs than to use an old school joystick? Luckily...

During my time in England I was disappointed that I wasn’t invited to visit Buckingham Palace. Tea with the Queen seemed like it would be a lovely time, but also I’d maybe get to meet the royal corgis, all of who have been wonderfully realized in bricks here by builder vincentkiew. Original linkOriginal author: Tommy

In season one of Stranger Things you are continually guessing at the nature of El’s gifts, and the power of them. You might have been wondering why the bad guys were so afraid of her, then this scene happened and you were pretty much as shocked and stunned as the kids she was escaping with, and I’m guessing totally hooked for the rest of the season. An iconic moment brilliantly recreated by Norton74. Original linkOriginal author: Tommy

I have just been told from my source that the LEGO Creator Detective’s Office (10246) and the Brick Bank (10251) have officially been retired. That means there are no more sets being produced and whatever sets you find on store shelves are the last remaining sets you’ll be able to find at retail price. I’ve been telling you guys about it for a while now and it looks like this is the end of the road for these two sets. As of this writing, LEGO Shop@Home still has them in stock and Amazon still has five sets available at retail price, however, the Brick Bank is out of stock everywhere. The post LEGO Creator Detective’s Office and Brick Bank Officially Retired appeared first on The Brick Fan. Original linkOriginal author: Allen "Tormentalous" Tran

The LEGO Movie 2 sets won’t be available until December 26 but you can get a head start on a couple of the sets as they are now available on Shop@Home. As of this writing, both the Emmet’s Builder Box (70832) and Lucy’s Builder Box (70833) can be purchased for $29.99 each and they include three models as well some new minifigure variants of Emmet and Lucy. The post The LEGO Movie 2 Builder Boxes Available for Purchase on Shop@Home appeared first on The Brick Fan. Original linkOriginal author: Allen "Tormentalous" Tran