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Check out what you can make with 750,000 LEGOs
From Kare11.com website March 20, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS -- Local LEGO-builders have a new way to let visitors get a look at
their one-of-a-kind creations.
Its extravagant. You come in and its a huge playland, visitor Trever
Sullivan said about the warehouse in north Minneapolis that is filled with
original LEGO scenes.
It is a playland where trains chug across bridges and through tunnels, passing
all kinds of action. There is a mountain, a main street and hundreds of
characters in countless scenes.
The thing that surprises visitors the most is these are not sets that LEGO has
made, club member Stein Settergren explained.
Everything is custom made, club member Steve Demlow added.
What looks like it could have come from a giant LEGO kit is actually the
brainchild of a dozen local guys whove never given up their childhood hobbies.
It is a whole mix of people. Weve got a couple computer programmers, a guy
who does real estate, a 911 dispatcher, club member John Kelly said. Theres
a LEGO geek and a train geek and a couple of guys are both.
Some of the men have been building together since the early 80s. More LEGO
fanatics came on board after the LEGO store opened at the Mall of America in the
early 90s.
We met in a basement of a guys house in Minneapolis, Demlow explained. We
had room for about a fifth of the layout to be set up at any one time.
The Greater Midwest LEGO Train Club (GMLTC) now operates out of the
Brickmania Toyworks warehouse in Suite 177 at 1620 Central Avenue NE in
Minneapolis. The Twin Cities LEGO Train Club also has a layout in the space.
The clubs hold a free open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday
of every month.
Besides the train layouts, there is a building area for the kids. There is also
a small retail store within the space featuring a variety of hard to find LEGO
products.
It is incredible, one father said as he looked through the display with his
kids. Were wondering on how many pieces?
Settergren figures the guys in the GMLTC have at least 750,000 bricks into what
the group considers a huge art project.
It is an artistic medium, Settergren explained. This is our medium, the LEGO
brick.
The LEGO brick-- that built the playland-- that is turning out to be a hit with
all ages in Minneapolis.
Source:
Kare11.com
Brickmania Brickmania.com
Greater Midwest LEGO Train Club GMLTC.ORG
Twin Cities LEGO Train Club TCLTC
-end of report-
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The Greater
Midwest LEGO Train Club will be showing this weekend at the La Crosse & Three
Rivers Railroad Club 29th Annual Model Railroad Show. Come see the GMLTCs
18x30 ever-expanding modular all-LEGO town & 9V train layout. Judy & Bill
Payne will also have their town layout featuring LEGO battery trains.
Trempealeaus Dave & Stacy Sterling will be displaying their ToT-LUG LEGO Town &
Train layout. As always, guests are invited to bring along their own LEGO
rolling stock to run on our layout. There will be many other (non-Lego)
operating train layouts from all over WI, MN & IA, exhibits and displays,
railroadiana, railroad art, door prizes and hobby dealers. Dates/Times:
Saturday, March 20th, 2010 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Sunday, March 21st, 2010
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Admission:
$5 for adults. $4.50 for adults when a non-perishable food item is donated.
Children under 11 are FREE when accompanied by an adult.
Location:
La Crosse Center
300 Harborview Plaza
Second and Pearl Streets
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Free parking, Wheelchair Accessible.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=lacrosse+center,+lacrosse,+wi&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=12&ll=43.888615,-91.240768&spn=0.174931,0.32135&om=1&iwloc=A
More info:
http://lax3riversmodelrrclub.com/Show%20Dates.htm
Hope to see you there!
--
Bill Toenjes
(TooMuchDew)
http://www.gmltc.org/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/gmltc/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=183883107508
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The Greater Midwest LEGO Train Club will be showing this weekend at the
La Crosse & Three Rivers Railroad Club 27th Annual Model Railroad Show.
Come see the GMLTCs 18x30 ever-expanding modular all-LEGO town & train
layout. Club member Judy Payne will also have a layout featuring LEGO battery
trains and Duplo trains.
Also see John and Ross Neals Twin Cities LEGO Train Club (TCLTC) layout.
http://news.lugnet.com/trains/org/tcltc/
As always, guests are invited to bring along their own LEGO rolling stock to run
on our layout. There will be many other (non-Lego) operating train layouts from
all over WI, MN & IA, exhibits and displays, railroadiana, railroad art, door
prizes and hobby dealers. Dates/Times:
Saturday, March 8th, 2008
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday, March 9th, 2008
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Admission:
$5 for adults. $4.50 for adults when a non-perishable food item is donated.
Children under 11 are FREE when accompanied by an adult.
Location:
La Crosse Center
300 Harborview Plaza
Second and Pearl Streets
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Free parking, Wheelchair Accessible.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=lacrosse+center,+lacrosse,+wi&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=12&ll=43.888615,-91.240768&spn=0.174931,0.32135&om=1&iwloc=A
More info:
http://www.trains.com/trc/community/events/event-info.asp?eventid=11335
Hope to see you there!
--
Bill Toenjes
(TooMuchDew)
G.M.L.T.C.
http://www.gmltc.org/
(not to be confused with the Great Missenden Lawn Tennis Club)
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The Greater Midwest LEGO Train Club will be showing this weekend at the
La Crosse & Three Rivers Railroad Club 26th Annual Model Railroad Show.
Come see the GMLTCs 18x30 ever-expanding modular all-LEGO town & train
layout. Club member Judy Payne will also have x 15x15 layout featuring LEGO
battery trains and Duplo trains.
Also see John and Ross Neals Twin Cities LEGO Train Club (TCLTC) layout.
http://news.lugnet.com/trains/org/tcltc/
As always, guests are invited to bring along their own LEGO rolling stock to run
on our layout. There will be many other (non-Lego) operating train layouts,
exhibits and displays, railroadiana, railroad art, door prizes and hobby
dealers.
Dates/Times:
Saturday, March 17th, 2007
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday, March 18th, 2007
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Admission:
$5 for adults. $4.50 for adults when a non-perishable food item is donated.
Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.
Location:
La Crosse Center
300 Harborview Plaza
Second and Pearl Streets
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Free parking, Wheelchair Accessible.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=lacrosse+center,+lacrosse,+wi&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=12&ll=43.888615,-91.240768&spn=0.174931,0.32135&om=1&iwloc=A
More info:
http://l3rclub.rrdepot.com/show.php
http://www.trains.com/trc/community/events/event-info.asp?eventid=10331
Hope to see you there!
--
Bill Toenjes
(TooMuchDew)
G.M.L.T.C.
http://www.gmltc.org/
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WOWOWOOWOWW! Boys and Girls it is time for the SECOND ANNUAL LEGO® Pull Back
Motor RACE! We are holding a workshop for the Race this Saturday Morning and
then are heading out with all of the Families to have the race. If anyone is
interested please contact us via email for more details! Sincerely, All About
Family email: kelley01@visi.com
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We have been doing a Family Group called All About Family for about 2 years. We
have started to do LEGO® activties on a monthly basis. This month we did LEGO
kaleidoscopes which was a FABULOUS project. Next month we are doing a LEGO®
Easter Bunny project (Lets first remember the reason for the season of Easter).
If you are interested in being added to the activities list, and participating
in the LEGO® Family activities (not sponsored nor endorsed by the LEGO® Company)
we will be doing something every month. We usually have drawn sponsors to help
pay for supplies (a neighborhood group has written us into their NRP plan and we
have also received individual donations and sponsorships) so most of the
activities are FREE and kids are usually able to bring home their projects! Keep
in touch! Sincerely, Brian email: kelley01@visi.com
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(Cross-posted to a few relevant sections. I hope I haven't gone bonkers.)
[The Greater Midwest Lego® Train Club] will be displaying its ever-expanding 18'
x 30' town/train layout at two Midwest shows in the coming weeks. We've added
some new sections to the layout in recent months and hope to continue adding on
during the shows.
As always, we encourage visitors to bring their own rolling stock to run on our
layout. There will be many many other (non-Lego®) train layouts and dealers
displaying at both shows, and John and Ross Neal's Twin Cities Lego® Train Club
(TCLTC) layout (<http://www.mocpages.com/home.php/10>) will also be set up at
the La Crosse show.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First, we're heading to a new show for us, close to home:
[The World's Greatest Hobby on Tour]
<http://www.wghshow.com/showinfo/stp/stpaul.htm>
Location:
St. Paul RiverCentre
175 West Kellogg Boulevard
St. Paul, MN 55102-1299
When:
Saturday, February 25, 2006: 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday, February 26, 2006: 10 am to 5 pm
Weekend admission:
$9.00 for adults. Children under 16 enter free with a registered adult.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three weeks later, we make our annual return to an old favorite:
[La Crosse & Three Rivers Model Railroad Show]
<http://l3rclub.rrdepot.com/show.php>
Location:
La Crosse Center
300 Harborview Plaza
Second and Pearl Streets
La Crosse, Wisconsin
When:
Saturday, March 18, 2006: 10 am to 6 pm
Sunday, March 19, 2006: 10 am to 4 pm
Admission (last year's rates, anyway):
$4.00 for adults, children under the age of 12 are free.
($1.00 off admission with donation of a non-perishable food item for local food
pantries.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We hope to see you at one or both shows! :)
- Michael Zecca
GMLTC (<http://www.gmltc.org>)
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The Minnesota state FLL tournament is at Benilde St. Margaret (a school in
Hopkins) on January 28 from 8 am to 5 pm. For details and directions go to
www.hightechkids.org. I'll be a design judge. Visitors are welcome, so stop by
the technical judging area and say Hi.
Dean Hystad
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In lugnet.loc.us.mn, Dean Hystad wrote:
> Kevin,
>
> Oooh, bad timing. That's the same day as the Minnesota State FLL tournament.
> You should come next year and display you MOC's at the tourney. We could have
> you, me, Doug Carlson and Benton Jackson. I wonder what other AFOL's we have in
> the area?
Man you've got a long memory! I think it's been a long time since I've mentioned
where I am, and I haven't been too active lately. Getting more active though,
even the thought of a new Mindstorms is inspiring me to pull the old one out.
So where is the FLL tournament? Maybe I should stop by and visit.
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In lugnet.loc.us.mn, Kevin L. Clague wrote:
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Im also a MUP, so if you want to come by and chat about general topics of
the new NXT Mindstorms set (the topics not covered by the NDA), please stop by
and visit.
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Will you be able to show off your NXT?
JOHN
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Kevin,
Oooh, bad timing. That's the same day as the Minnesota State FLL tournament.
You should come next year and display you MOC's at the tourney. We could have
you, me, Doug Carlson and Benton Jackson. I wonder what other AFOL's we have in
the area?
Oh well, have fun and congrats on your MUP status.
Dean Hystad
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Hi,
On Saturday January 28th I will be having a local showing of some of my MOCs
at the Owatonna (indian name pronounced Oh-wah-tah-na) Arts Center in Owatonna
Minnesota. I will be bringing mostly walkers made using RCX, micro-scouts,
micro-motors, and pneumatics.
I'm also a MUP, so if you want to come by and chat about general topics of the
new NXT Mindstorms set (the topics not covered by the NDA), please stop by and
visit.
Kev
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I've got a co-worker that will be visiting the Mall of America soon... Does
anyone know what the current selection of parts/colors sold in the Mall of
America Pick-A-Brick?
Thanks!
--Mike.
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I am doing a Saturday Dads and Kids Group. As a LEGO fan it will be a part of
what we do. If anyone is interested let me know! Sincerely, Brian Kelley email:
kelley01@visi.com
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The Greater Midwest LEGO Train Club will be showing this weekend at the
La Crosse & Three Rivers Railroad Club 24rd Annual Model Railroad Show.
Thrill to the GMLTC's huge ever-expanding modular all-LEGO town/train layout
(a 30'x19' "L" at last count)!!!
Wonder at John and Ross Neal's Twin Cities LEGO Train Club (TCLTC) layout.
(http://www.mocpages.com/home.php/10) Their 11'x12' display will be making its
debut public showing in La Crosse!!!
Marvel at Dan Siskind's (http://www.brickmania.com/) amazing LEGO
"Might Mo", the USS Missouri (BB-63) battleship!!!
As always, guests are invited to bring along their own LEGO rolling stock to run
on our layout. There will be many other (non-Lego) train layouts and dealers
displaying at the show.
Dates/Times:
Saturday, March 12th, 2005
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday, March 13th, 2005
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Admission:
Adults $4.00
Children under the age of 12 are free
$1.00 off admission with donation of a non-perishable food item for local food
pantries
Location:
La Crosse Center
300 Harborview Plaza
Second and Pearl Streets
La Crosse, Wisconsin
More info:
http://l3rclub.rrdepot.com/show.php
Hope to see you there!
--
Bill Toenjes
(TooMuchDew)
G.M.L.T.C.
http://www.gmltc.org/
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I was in Cub Foods here in Fridley, Minnesota (57th & University Ave.) tonight
(for groceries, honest!) and found several small sets on after Christmas
clearance in their seasonal aisle, most for less than the Target just down the
road. Im not sure if the entire Cub Foods chain was carrying these sets, but
it might be worth a look in your local Cub:
4346-4349: The standard 2004 X-pods (red, green, blue, yellow), $2.00 each
(Note to locals: There were quite a few of each.)
4505: Designer Sea Machines, $5.00
4742: Alpha Team Chill Speeder, $2.00 (Target had them marked down to $2.78)
They also had three small 4+ Pirates sets (basically a minifig, an animal and a
few other small parts) for $2.00 each and some Clickits sets, which were either
$4 or $6 (cant remember, as they dont give me the same thrill).
(Note to locals: The Fridley Target at 53rd & University has also marked down
several sets since I was there a couple of days ago. Most of what they had left
of 2004s World City and Harry Potter sets were marked down 30%, as were some of
the Designer sets.)
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Hi and thanks for th e feed back.
when you say come out to see you guys, do you mean in La Crosse, in March?
Also I could personaly do no more than two thursday evenings a month, cause I
cook for a living ( it's all nights, weekends and holidays )
FYI I did find some fairly old pictures of my stuff on lugnet if'n you want to
see it. It's @ lugnet.com/pause/originals/braun/index/.html
you all ever heard of the Creative Kid Stuff lego building contest?
I have competed like six times including last summer. It's a good time, and it's
nice to get the feed back from other people.
thanks Max
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In lugnet.loc.us.mn, Max Braun wrote:
> Howdy, I am new to lugnet and I have just moved back to the MN area after 6 yrs
> in CO. I heard about the GMLTC and had a few questions.
>
> 1. How do you join GMLTC?
Come out and meet us sometime, we'd love to talk with you. Our next tentatively
scheduled show will be in March in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
> 2. are there regular meetings?
We try to meet on Thursday nights, I try to be there just about every week.
> 3. if there are regular meetings how often and where?
Every week, Thursdays at Conan & Jency's house in "Nordeast" Minneapolis. BUT,
right now the house is being completely remodelled, so all the bricks are packed
away and the only "building" that is being done is on the house!
> 4. is there a president or coordinator, secretary, and treasurer like in other
> clubs
Nope. We claim to be the most disorganized Lego train club in the world, and
we're sticking by that! But, Conan is considered the "leader" of the group, and
if he says we're going to do something we do it.
> 5. is there a cost or dues?
Nope, but we sometimes donate $ or bricks to the club collection.
> 6. do you use the clubs bricks or your own?
99.5% of the bricks on the layout belong to Conan and his uncle Chuck. The
other .5% are creations that someone has built out of their own supply and will
probably take home at the end of the show. Or, those bricks might just end up
being donated to the club!
> 7. if you use your own bricks do you get them back?
If you're quick enough to grab them when we start packing up. <grin>
Seriously, if you bring something to a show, you'll get it back.
> 8. If you get them back how do you tell them apart from john or jane doe's
> bricks
As long as the bricks are built into something, we'll know who they belong to.
But if you bring over a box of loose bricks and dump them into the collection,
consider them gone. :-)
> 9. how many members does the GMLTC have
About 12-15 members, but only 4 or 5 of us show up several times a month. We're
hoping to find a few more club members who want to show up and build at least
twice a month.
> 10. how many events does GMLTC do each year and when are they
We don't do many events, I think we like "building" more than we like
"displaying". We do the La Crosse show every year, we try to do a GATS show if
we can, we do a couple of weekends at the Jackson Street Roundhouse in St. Paul
(because we *love* that place!). We've done a Scandinavian Festival in
Moorhead, MN, a couple of times, but I don't know if we'll be going back there
or not. Out-of-town shows are difficult to do, because several club members
have young kids.
> thank you for any answers you can give
Happy to help, hope to see you sometime soon!
JohnG, GMLTC
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Howdy, I am new to lugnet and I have just moved back to the MN area after 6 yrs
in CO. I heard about the GMLTC and had a few questions.
1. How do you join GMLTC?
2. are there regular meetings?
3. if there are regular meetings how often and where?
4. is there a president or cordinator, secitary, and tresurer like in other
clubs
5. is there a cost or dues?
6. do you use the clubs bricks or your own?
7. if you use your own bricks do you get them back?
8. If you get them back how do you tell them apart from john or jane doe's
bricks
9. how many members does the GMLTC have
10. how many events does GMLTC do each year and when are they
thank you for any answers you can give
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I should have also mentioned that we especially invite other AFOLs to come hang
out with us at the display. The GMLTC could use some more active members and
this is an ideal place to meet us and see if you might be interested in becoming
involved in the group.
Steve [GMLTC]
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