Lego Parisian Restaurant Modular Building (10243) Reviewed by Huw

Lego has been steadily releasing new Modular Buildings for the past few years. The recent, Palace Cinema (10232), and Town Hall (10224) have proven extremely popular. The newest set is the Parisian Restaurant (10243) which should be hitting shelves in the near future. Huw, from Brickset, has recently posted an early photo review of this highly anticipated set. The Parisian Restaurant comes with the now standard 3 step instructions. Which, should take anywhere from 5-9 hours to complete.

There are a whole lot of new and rare pieces included this time around. The most recognizable is the new Lego Scooter. This little red Vespa influenced scooter is extremely cute, and fits in perfectly with the Parisian Restaurant. Also included are a whole lot bricks in the new Olive Green Lego color. Since the whole building is based on this rare color, the Parisian Restaurant is probably the best source for these parts.

Featuring five Minifigures, a chef, waiter, two restaurant patrons, and the female scooter pilot. As usual, these included Minifigs all feature the classic smiling Lego head. I like to think of the blonde man as a Lego Owen Wilson.

Huw notes that the increased detail means that the Restaurant takes longer to build. All three floors are furnished, with the bottom floor featuring an impressive amount of details. From the fully tiled flooring, to the full kitchen, everything here looks great.

The Lego Parisian Restaurant is an excellent new entry in the Modular Building theme. The previous two seemed to be missing a certain spark for some fans, but this set has reignited their enthusiasum. The other good news is that there are no stickers this time around. Everything here is given the premium treatment from Lego.

“Modular buildings have come a long way since Cafe Corner, which was just an empty shell, haven’t they…”

Make sure to go read Huw’s full review, with many more photos and details over on Brickset:

Part 1: http://www.brickset.com/news/article/?ID=8134
Part 2: http://www.brickset.com/news/article/?ID=8147

More details (including video!) of the Parisian Restaurant can be found on LegoGenre here: http://everydaybricks.com/lego-creator-parisian-restaurant-10243-modular-building-revealed/

LegoGenre | 00322: Overwhelmed

Overwhelmed.

LegoGenre | 00321: Pop(sicle) Star

Pop(sicle) Star.

LegoGenre | 00320: Afternoon Sun

Afternoon Sun.

Lego Friends: Emma’s Place, A Lovely Modular Building MOC

It turns out that Lego Friends fits into the Lego System very well. It’s success means that this theme will probably be staying around for years. So far, the Friends theme has been offering many unique Lego pieces and exclusive colors. Focusing on pink, purple, blue, and green has made these sets instantly recognizable (for good or bad). There have been a few amazing MOCs (My Own Creation) combining the Friends theme with other Lego themes. Some of the best creations are those involving the Modular Buildings. These super detailed buildings can be described as a sort of “doll house” for the Lego fan.

This Lego Friends themed modular building is called Emma’s Place. This design would fit into the modular buildings very well. Especially the Lego Pet Shop (10218) and the Lego Cafe Corner (10182). Emma’s Place is a single building that combines the the Beauty Parlour, Fashion Design Studio and Karate Class together. The all glass (plastic!) entrance into Emma’s Place is a great design; opening up into a full Beauty Salon.

The second floor features a Fashion Design Studio.

Emma’s Place is topped with a Karate Dojo, where all the friends can attend Karate Class.

Emma’s Place is a great MOC built by Kristel. Who has built many other Friends themed creations. You can find more details over on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kjw010/8993657558/

LegoGenre has featured other Lego Friends themed Modular Buildings, most notably the “Lego Friends: Lovely Hotel, A Wonderful Cafe Corner (10182) Mod” which can be found here.

Lego Creator Parisian Restaurant (10243) Modular Building Revealed!

During Brickcon 2013 Lego has officially revealed the newest Modular Building, the Lego Creator Parisian Restaurant (10243). This is a very different modular then the recent releases from Lego. The building doesn’t completely fill (vertically) the 32 stud baseplate. Instead having a small outdoor patio on the roof of the first floor. The first floor is an extremely detailed parisian restaurant. With a small apartment (Murphy bed!) on the second floor, and an artist studio at the top. This set will come with 2,469 pieces at a price of $159.99. The Lego Creator Parisian Restaurant (10243) will be available to purchase in January 2014.

Check out the official Lego Design video here:

http://youtu.be/r_VroKcBFqE

The Parisian Restaurant feels like it has been influenced by the rare Lego Market Street (10190) Modular Building. Although this new restaurant seems to avoid the problems that Market Street had. A more standard design that fits in with the other Modulars, and much more carefully thought out features. It looks like this set will fit in nicely with the latest Modular Buildings.

“Have an unforgettable evening at the amazing Parisian Restaurant!

It’s very busy in the Parisian Restaurant. As a scooter zips by, inside the waiter rushes between the tables as the nervous young man gets ready to propose with the ring! It’s just as hectic behind the scenes, with the chef busily preparing the food. This beautifully detailed building is the setting for so many stories and is a great addition to the modular building series. The Parisian Restaurant has a fully-stocked, blue and white tiled kitchen with tableware as well as a cozy apartment with pull-down bed, kitchenette and fireplace. On the top floor is the artist’s room with a studio that includes a cast iron heater, easel, paintbrush and two works of art by the aspiring artist. Outside, stairs lead down to the roof terrace lined with hanging lanterns and flowers where the diners eat alfresco-style. This amazing Parisian Restaurant model even includes a facade with croissants, clams and feather details that recapture the feel of Paris. Includes 5 minifigures: chef, waiter, girl and a romantic couple.”

The Lego Creator Parisian Restaurant (10243) comes with an all new Moped style scooter. This new scooter alone is worth the full price. Vrooom…

Lego Minecraft: The Village & Lego Minecraft: The Nether Available Now

Lego Minecraft is one of those perfect themes. The two come together to create some of the best Lego sets of all time. The Lego Minecraft Micro World set is easily one of the best selling Lego sets of last year. Often selling out of stock once the set had been replenished. Lego has noticed, and has been continually “reprinting” the original Minecraft set. Now Lego has officially released two new sets in the Minecraft theme. Making this the first CUUSOO project to graduate into a full theme. The new Lego Minecraft: The Village and Lego Minecraft: The Nether are now available through Lego and Amazon.

The early reviews are starting to show up, and are generally forming the opinion that these new sets are great. Perfect for anyone who enjoyed the original. Check out the details at Amazon:

Lego Minecraft: Micro World, The Village.

Lego Minecraft: Micro World: The Nether.

Lego Minecraft: Micro World.

LegoGenre | 00286: Bird Watching

Bird Watching.

Two New Lego Minecraft Sets: The Village (21105) & The Nether (21106)

Lego has officially announced two new Lego Minecraft sets. The Village (21105) and the Nether (21106) which will be released in September 2013. These new sets have been mysterious rumors up until today. Lego made this announcement from Comic-Con San Diego. If you are attending the Con, make sure to check out these new sets in the Lego booth (#2829).

Lego Minecraft: The Village (21105) is built in the same scale as the original Lego Minecraft set. Featuring four modular pieces that can be rearranged into many different combinations. This new set features a tiny Minecraft village and a place to grow crops. But, underneath this unsuspecting village is a system of underground mines where your villagers can adventure. This new set comes with three tiny Micromobs, a pig, villager, and zombie. The Minecraft pig is pretty darn cute.

The other new set is the Lego Minecraft: The Nether (21106). It is also built in the same scale as the other Minecraft sets. Meaning that if you have all three of them, you can combine them into a giant playset. The Nether can be accessed through an Obsidian Portal, where your poor adventurer can explore this new biome. The set features, Netherrack, gravel, lava, and bedrock. All essential ingredients for your Minecraft creations. Here you get three Micromob figures, a Zombie Pigman and two Ghasts.

The original Lego Minecraft (21102) set has been a runnaway success for both Lego and Mojang. Originally offered through the Lego CUUSOO program, the set proved so popular that it has been developed into a full theme. Featuring a modular, and micro scale building style these sets have really expanded upon what most people have expected from Lego.

“LEGO Minecraft is a perfect example of how people’s passions can be amplified when digital and physical interests are combined, and there couldn’t be more synergy between the engine that drives the Minecraft gaming experience and the creative fuel of a LEGO building experience,” said Michelle Wilson, senior brand manager for LEGO Systems, Inc. “We are thrilled to continue our collaboration with Mojang to create new Minecraft characters and environments in LEGO form so that fans can get as creative as they’d like in their physical world as in their digital one.”

“There’s no doubt about the connection between LEGO building and Minecraft — not only the design similarities, but the immense creativity that our fan bases share,” said Lydia Winters, Mojang’s director of fun. “Given how well received the first model was last year, we can’t wait to see what fans think of these new designs.” — Lego

Now is a great time to pick up the original Lego Minecraft (21102), available at Amazon. These sets are extremely popular and if they happen to be sold out, check back at a later date. Lego is constantly releasing more. Each time a new shipment is available, the price is set for the MSRP of $34.99.

Update: Available Now!

These two new Minecraft Lego sets are available now. Check out Amazon.com for the details: Lego Minecraft: Micro World, The Village and Lego Minecraft: Micro World: The Nether.

Lego Friends: Lovely Hotel, A Wonderful Cafe Corner (10182) Mod

The Lego Friends theme has been a wild success for Lego. The first truly successful “girls” line of Lego. There have been many other attempts by Lego to break into the “pink“ isle at the local toy store. But this has lead to a lot of criticism about the separation based on gender of Lego themes. And this segregation away from the other Lego sets certainly doesn’t help Lego keep a gender neutral position. There sure is a lot of pink, purple and tan in the Lego Friends theme, but the building designs, techniques and imagination involved are the same that makes Lego so popular.

One of the most impressive Lego Friends MOCs is this Lovely Hotel. The actual design is almost an exact match to the famous Lego Cafe Corner (10182). The designer of this put a lot of work into modifying the Cafe Corner, and converting it to the Friends color scheme. With some really great ideas, such as using the hair decoration pieces for window dressing. Even the trademark entry sign has been recreated with flowers and ice cream (the original is made from ski’s and a coffee mug). It makes the ground level of the Lovely Hotel an Ice Cream parlor instead of a Cafe, which is a great fit with this theme. This whole build almost feels like it is made out of candy, and it could easily fit into a larger candyland theme.

More information about the Lego Friends: Lovely Hotel can be found here:
http://legoblog.exblog.jp/15189357/

The site is in Japanese, so some details, such as the designers name are still a mystery. If you have any information feel free to leave a note.

Lovely Hotel Update:

Some new information and photos of the Lovely Hotel have popped up online, see them here: http://everydaybricks.com/more-details-about-that-charming-lego-friends-lovely-hotel/