The 8th Annual “Living LEGO-cy” show opens this coming weekend in Palo Alto. Hosted every year by the Museum of American Heritage, 351 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto, California, the exhibit features a wide variety of amazing and innovative LEGO Creations and LEGO trains running through familiar city, farm, and suburban scenes, all built from LEGO bricks.
It opens on Friday, December 9, 2010 and runs through Sunday, January 15 2012 during regular Museum open hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 3:30pm. It will be closed Christmas Eve and Day, and New Years Eve and Day. All ages welcome. General admission is $2 for the Exhibit, Museum Admission is Free (but donations are welcome). Current BayLUG and MoAH members are FREE! No strollers inside the exhibit, please.
The December 2-4 weekend was a busy one for many BayLUG members, setting up the exhibit. Members overcame a number of challenges in both setting up the train layout with under table clearances, and with installing displays. Everything was ready just in time for MoAH’s Member Holiday Party late Sunday afternoon, as you can see in the following pictures. Click any of the pictures to view a gallery of photos from the exhibit setup and party.
The Exhibit will feature a wide variety of amazing and innovative LEGO Creations and LEGO trains running through familiar city, farm, and suburban scenes. It opens on Friday, December 9, 2010 and runs through Sunday, January 15 2012 during regular Museum open hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 to 3:30. It will be closed Christmas Eve and Day, and New Years Eve and Day! All ages welcome.
$2 Exhibit Admission, Museum Admission is Free. No strollers inside the exhibit, please.
On April 16th, 2011 in Palo Alto, buildings shook, people ran for their lives, earthquake after earthquake shook again and again. Then bricks came crashing down, skyscraper after skyscraper – LEGO bricks, that is – scattered all over the ground. After all, we were at a Bay Area LEGO User’s Group (BayLUG) meeting.
The BayLUG Kids’ Building activity was again a big success. This month’s “A Whole Lot of Shaking!” simulated an earthquake with Lego buildings. The challenge was to build the tallest structure that can withstand a simulated earthquake.
The buildings ranged from simple boxy structures to complex towers with earthquake resistant features such as dampeners, pendulums and wheels.
Which size base would be more stable: 2×2, 4×4 or 6×6 (that is in Lego stud size), the kids pondered? Would a chunky building or a wide-based building that tapered to a skinny top be more earthquake resistant?
The test site was simple, a shake table basically comprised of several rubber balls sandwiched in between a wooden frame on the bottom and a top piece of wood board. Gently jiggle the top piece of wood and we have an earthquake.
More than 15 kids attended and the activity ran overtime, as the kids wanted to keep building and keep shaking it up.
Last weekend, many BayLUG members and more than 3500 others enjoyed viewing and discussing LEGO creations at the 2nd Annual Bricks By the Bay Convention. The event was organized by a non-profit company established by three BayLUG members, including former President Bill Ward. Held this year in the much larger Hyatt Regency Santa Clara adjacent to the Santa Clara Convention Center, record numbers of both convention and public day attendees turned up. Convention attendees, including many BayLUG/BayLTC members, provided the many fabulous LEGO creations on display, and participated in LEGO-related discussion and tutorial sessions, contests, and had fun. There was a BayLTC train/town layout in the center of the exhibit hall as well as many LEGO creations in a variety of themes and a showcase of old LEGO sets and products. Public attendees viewed and discussed convention attendee MOCs, interacted with LEGO and LEGO Education staff, and reviewed many types of products available from vendors. The event was another triumph for the company, and the community!
At the recent February BayLUG meeting at MoAH in Palo Alto, members present voted unanimously to update the Club’s bylaws as discussed over the past few months. The revised bylaws will be posted soon.
In addition, the meeting featured a “Farm” build contest, and a Kids Activity that built and tested catapults.
The next regular club meeting is March 19th in San Leandro. The March Build Contest theme is “Creative Combinations,” in honor of the Bricks by the Bay convention the following weekend.
What a day! There was a huge turnout at the Fall Public meeting Halloween Eve, October 30th, of the Bay Area LEGO User’s Group at MoAH in Palo Alto. It was also the Meeting that commemorates the club’s founding 12 years ago. LEGO fans of all ages had several activities to choose from.
BayLUG President Mark Benz oversees the building contest
The BayLUG Members’ Building Contest had a record number of Halloween-themed entries. The contest display table ran out of space, so some building entries overflowed onto an adjacent table. Entries ranged from popular trick-or-treat houses, to a full size glowing 3-D LEGO Jack O’Lantern, to gigantic spooky fortresses, and many other awesome creations too numerous to list.
Each builder gave a short presentation of their LEGO original creation, delighting BAYLUG members and the public. Members voted after and prizes were awarded in each of the age category: under age 6, 6-11, and 12+.
Next up was the kids’ building activity, the idea was to build LEGO bridges. Each young builder had an identical kit of LEGO bricks. and building challenges to building a bridge where a hard-boiled egg can fit under the bridge AND the same bridge can also support the egg. One variation of the challenge was to use a heavier and larger soup can instead of the egg. Another challenge variation was to build the bridge with the fewest number of bricks. There were as many creative building solutions as there were builders.
Then there was a popular LEGO Parts Draft event. The LEGO kit used was the 7570 Ostrich Race from the new Prince of Persia series.
In addition to many new creations members brought to show, throughout the day, new and played-with bulk and kitted LEGO was available for sale or trade. Many BayLUG members and LEGO fans found the needed parts to complete a LEGO project ,or discovered other LEGO elements that inspire planning a new project.
Thanks again to MoAH for hosting another great day with happy and content BayLUG Members.
We will have a special kids’ activity next Sunday at MOAH. It is scheduled for 1:30 pm, after the regular contest. The activity is building and racing cars on the spot. It is open to all kids who are BayLUG members, either as individual minor members or through a family membership.
In order to have adequate materials, please let us know if you plan to attend. This is not meant to be a mandatory RSVP, but to get an idea how many kids we will have there. You can comment under this post or send email to indicate that you will apply.
Here are the rules of the contest. For more information see the Parents Wiki page about the event (requires login).
Car Construction
Only cars built from the LEGO elements available at the meeting may race officially.
Using the provided axles and wheels, build a car that runs on these wheels down the provided race track (a PVC channel).
There is a 6 wheel limit per car, which may be reduced to 4, depending on the number of participants.
The car must fit entirely within the start box marked on the channel.
After a race, you can modify your car and challenge somebody else.
Cars built, or partially built, elsewhere, and/or with non-club LEGO elements may participate as time allows.
Races
The cars will be lined up with their fronts the starting line, the referee will give the starting signal.
The car whose front-most part first passes the finish line is the winner, as determined by the referee, whose decision is final.
If none of the cars makes it all the way to the finish line, Referee can call for a re-race or ask that the cars should be modified before racing again.
Finish and Prizes
After a half or 1 hour (or when deemed appropriate by the organizers) racing will end. We will take pictures of the participants with their final cars if they so desire, to post on the BayLUG web site. There maybe a small prize for the winner of each race, by participant age group, or some other prize format.
Racers are reminded that they may also display their car(s) and other vehicle creations at MoAH’s Vintage Vehicle’s Fair, Sunday July 25th!
As you have likely heard, the recent Bricks By the Bay LEGO Convention in Fremont was a huge success by almost any measure. Organized by Bricks By the Bay, Inc. a non-profit company founded by BayLUG members, the event showcased fabulous LEGO creations by LEGO fans of all ages, and from many places, filling the Ballroom at the Fremont Silicon Valley Marriott Hotel. Also featured were Keynote addresses by LEGO company executives, including Mads Nipper, Executive Vice President of Market & Products from Billund, Denmark!
There were interesting building and planning sessions, contests, prizes and of course lots of talking about LEGO for attendees of the three-day event.
The last day the creations and vendor spaces were open to the public. With more than 2500 visitors attending, braving lines of up to an hour and a half, and the rain. Unfortunately, there we so many guests, some had to be turned away due to facility and departure restrictions. Everyone who entered thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Photos by Karlong Chan.
JANUARY
BayLUG Meeting, January 24, at Dave Porter’s in Woodside
FEBRUARY
BayLUG Meeting, February 20, at Johannes’ Church in San Leandro
MARCH
BayLTC at Train Collectors Association Cal Stewart Meet, March 12-14. Public Day March 14, at Santa Clara Convention Center. Admission charge.
APRIL
Bricks By the Bay LEGO Convention, Fremont, April 9-11
MAY
BayLUG Meeting, May 15 at Johannes’ Church in San Leandro
BayLUG and BayLTC participation in the Maker Faire, May 22-23, San Mateo
JUNE
BayLUG Meeting, June 20 at MoAH in Palo Alto
BayLUG and BayLTC participation in Johannes’ LEGO Show tentatively June 25 through July 25 at his Church in San Leandro. Set up starting on June 20th after 2 PM, and the rest of that week
JULY
BayLUG and BayLTC at MoAH Vintage Vehicles, July 25, Palo Alto, across El Camino from Stanford Mall.
AUGUST
BayLUG Meeting ,August 22 at MoAH in Palo Alto.
SEPTEMBER
BayLUG Meeting, September 18 at Johannes’ Church in San Leandro. Canceled: BayLTC participation in GTE Train Show, Date TBA, San Jose.
OCTOBER
BayLUG Anniversary Meeting, October 30 at MoAH in Palo Alto.
NOVEMBER
BayLTC participation in GTE Train Show, Nov 27-28, San Jose (not Pleasanton as in years past!).
DECEMBER
BayLUG and BayLTC present 8th Annual “Living LEGO-cy” Holiday Show, at MoAH in Palo Alto.
Set up Dec 3-4. MoAH Members Party Dec 5. Show opens to public Friday Dec 10. Open every Fri, Sat & Sun, except Holidays through Jan 9, 2011.
Show closes 1 week earlier than this year to avoid MLK weekend.
Bricks by the Bay presents the first-ever LEGO convention for Northern California. Themed “The Brick Artistic,” it is a celebration of the LEGO hobby and the brick as an artistic medium! This isn’t a BayLUG event but BayLUG is a major sponsor and participant. We’ll have a large BayLUG presence there as well as LEGO enthusiasts from all over the United States and perhaps even overseas!
There will be a public exhibition on Sunday, April 11 with a huge hotel ballroom full of LEGO exhibits from all over the country and maybe even overseas! For the serious hobbyist, the convention will run Friday through Sunday, April 9-11.
Hundreds of people have been swarming every day to the Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto to view the club’s “Living LEGO-cy” exhibit since it opened on December 11. As of December 20, our total visitors to date is 1572!
We’re getting more and more publicity each week, and the public attendance has been growing accordingly. We were interviewed Friday morning (December 18) for a Spanish language TV station KDTV Univision (Channel 14) which will be broadcast at 6am on Tuesday, December 29. We were featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Mateo Daily Journal as well.
So come out and see the show, open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (except New Years’ Day) through January 17!
The Bay Area LEGO Users’ Group and Train Club (BayLUG/LTC) is pleased to announce their 5th Annual “Living LEGO-cy” public Holiday LEGO Show again at the Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto.
The annual event is fun for the whole family, and grows larger every year. This year, BayLTC presents a 12 by 25 foot, fully sceniced LEGO train layout with trains running through well known San Francisco, town and suburban scenes. In addition, BayLUG members have a WIDE variety of their own cool LEGO creations and models on display, from huge cranes and dragons, to classic cars and Santa.
The show, in the Museum’s Livermore Learning Center, is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7 December 2008 through 11 January 2009 from 11am to 4pm ONLY.
Free admission, though donations to the museum are always appreciated. The Museum is located at 351 Homer Ave. Palo Alto, CA. For more information please see www.baylug.org or www.MoAH.org or call (650) 321-1004.
The Bay Area LEGO Users Group (BayLUG) is pleased to announce that on October 10, 2008, we turn 10 years old, and we want you to come out and celebrate with us! The party is at the Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto on Sunday, October 12. The room will be open to the public from 3pm-5pm. There will be displays to see, LEGO to buy, and refreshments to enjoy. The museum address is:
Museum of American Heritage
351 Homer Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
* June 28, 2009: BayLUG meeting at MoAH
* August 7-23, 2009: train show at Johannes’ church
* September 26-27, 2009: GTE San Jose (tentative)
* October 4, 2009: BayLUG anniversay meeting at MoAH
* November 28-29, 2009: GTE Pleasanton (tentative)
* December 2009: MoAH Holiday display/layout starts
January 6, 2008: MoAH Holiday display ends
January 13, 2008: member’s only BayLUG meeting
January 26, 2008: BayLTC NMRA meeting
February 24, 2008: BayLUG meeting @ MoAH
March 8, 2008: BayLTC NMRA meeting
March 14-16, 2008: TCA Cal-Stewart Spring Meet
April 20, 2008: BayLUG meeting @ MoAH
May 3-4, 2008: Maker Faire
May 31, 2008: BayLTC NMRA meeting
June 22, 2008: BayLUG meeting @ MoAH
July 13, 2008: BayLTC NMRA meeting
July 18-20, 2008: NMRA NTS in Anaheim
July 26, 2008: BayLTC NMRA meeting
August 3, 2008: VVFF/BayLUG meeting
September 27-28, 2008: Great Train Expo in San Jose (tentative)
October 12, 2008: BayLUG 10th Anniversary meeting @ MoAH
November 2008: Great Train Expo in Pleasanton (tentative)
December 2008: MoAH Holiday display starts
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA – The Bay Area LEGO Users Group (BayLUG) and Train Club (BayLTC) are pleased to announce our 4th Annual “Living LEGO-cy” Holiday Display at the Museum of American Heritage.
Saturday, December 8, 2007 to Sunday, January 6, 2008
Museum of the American Heritage
351 Homer Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301 http://www.moah.org
Show Hours:
Friday-Sunday 11am-4pm
Admission: Donation
BayLTC will be presenting a self-running 12′x25′ layout with several loops of trains running through downtown, waterfront, and suburban scenes. The theme of this layout is “Holidays in the Bay Area,” and will feature locally-based scenes with a holiday theme. In addition, BayLUG members will have a variety of other models on display. In addition, you can read the latest newspaper article featuring BayLTC here:
Once again BayLUG will be taking part in the Vintage Vehicles and Family Fun Festival in Palo Alto, CA. This event, run by the Museum of American Heritage (where most of our BayLUG meetings are held), is a celebration of old vehicles and family activities. It will be held in El Camino Park, just across from the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto.
Date: Sunday, August 5, 2007
Time: 10am to 4pm (open to public)
Where: El Camino Park, 100 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA
(across from the Stanford Shopping Center)
Admission: free
Note: Club members please arrive between 8-10am to set up.
The Museum of American Heritage will be closed on this day.
Our club will have three clusters of tables, which need to be provided by us. We will have canopies, but as the event is outdoors, LEGO parts may be subjected to UV rays and other factors. We will be located right next to the main entrance.
Bring your latest models to show off, and/or parts or sets to sell.
For the third consecutive year, BayLUG and BayLTC presents their Annual “Living LEGO-cy” Holiday LEGO train layout and creations show in the Frank Livermore Learning Center at the Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto. Last year’s show was a door buster, with record museum attendance, and this year’s promises to be even better! The fabulous train layout and members’ displays will run from Saturday, December 16, 2006 through Sunday, January 14, 2007. Come one, come all and check out the LEGO trains and all of the interesting creations on display.
BayLTC will be presenting a self-running train layout with several loops of trains running through town, farming, and suburban scenes. In addition, BayLUG members will have a variety of other models on display.
Museum of American Heritage
351 Homer Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA – The Bay Area LEGO Users Group (BayLUG) and Train Club (BayLTC) is pleased to announce our schedule for the rest of 2006, and a preview of the 2007 schedule.
October 2006 BayLUG Meeting
Sunday, October 8, 2006
11am-4pm
Museum of American Heritage
351 Homer Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301 Great Train Expo
Sat-Sun, November 25-26, 2006
Alameda County Fairgrounds
4501 Pleasanton Avenue
Pleasanton, CA 94566
10am-4pm both days
Admission: $7 for adults; Kids 11 & under free
Admission is good for both days. Palo Alto Museum – “Living LEGO-cy”
December 16, 2006 – January 14, 2007
Museum of American Heritage
351 Homer Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Friday-Sunday 11am-4pm
Monday-Thursday closed
Closed December 25, 2006
Closed January 1, 2007
Admission: Donation Preview of the 2007 ScheduleBelow is a preview of our upcoming 2007 schedule. All information is subject to change without notice. Please check back for updates.
Date: Sunday, August 5, 2007