Unfortunately the Rondo Community Library has other needs for the other half of the conference room that we normally have our meetings in and so we have decided to change venues. Thankfully our friends at Brickmania and GMLTC have very kindly offered the use of their space for our monthly meetings and we have decided to make the move for this upcoming meeting.

Directions to the new site can be found on the GMLTC site using this link.

Additionally we are planning on having a parts draw for a couple of small sets this weekend. If you are interested in participating in the parts draw PLEASE say so on the mailing list by Friday December 16th so we can acquire adequate supplies. The set or sets is still being determined.

As always, for the most up to date information please join our email list hosted by Yahoo Groups for the latest information about current activities.

Recently they extended an invitation to TwinLUG to display Micropolis in their space and so we would like to extend an invitation for everyone to come see both the GMLTC train display as well as the TwinLUG Micropolis layout this coming Saturday August 13, 2011 at BrickMania from 10am till 4pm. Click here for location and further information.

While there have been essentially no changes to the base module specification we have taken the opportunity to add several new module types to the spec to allow for extending a Micropolis layout back into the hills and out into the water. The new Bluff module types provide a structured way to add terrain to the city and can be used effectively to help a crowded layout show off those gems that might be hidden in the shadow of those gorgeous towers. The new Waterfront module types provide a similar way to extend the city out into lakes, oceans, rivers, and beyond or to reconfigure your existing layout as an exotic archipelago. Combining these two new module types will provide opportunities for more complex and varied displays sure to draw the interest of any bystander.

We look forward to seeing new modules using the 1.1 specification at BrickWorld 2010 along with your creativity in the older Base modules. Be sure to mark your modules as part of the Micropolis Collaborative Display in your registration information!

Also be on the look out for a new contest hosted by our good friend Chris Doyle at ReasonablyClever.com! Plenty of great prizes will be available for your creations!

We will be manning our tables at the State Fair Grandstand both Saturday May 15 and Sunday May 16 so we can show off a little bit and answer any questions that you have.

Admission to the event is $11 (or $10 with a canned food item) but parking is free. Click here for more information about directions and parking.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The display would have been nothing if not for the great work done by everyone who contributed a module to the display:

• Tom Anderson
• Max Braun
• Roy Cook
• Garth Danielson
• Gary Dokulil
• Christopher Doyle
• Alice Leber-Cook
• Matt Holland
• Bill Hutchinson
• Bryan Kasprzyk
• Tim Goddard (Rogue Bantha)
• Lonn Moe
• Joe Meno
• Nathan Stohlmann
• Christopher Van Allen
• David Van Allen

We would like to thank all of the blogs that posted links to the Bad Day contest and especially all of the posts from MicroBricks leading up to the convention.

We would also like to thank everyone who stopped by the display all through Brickworld and talked to us about the project. Watching people see the display the first time and start to notice all of the details was a privilege in itself, but being able to talk to some of you about the project and how it was put together was reward enough for putting it together.

We plan to be back next year with a bigger and better display and hope that anyone who was inspired by this year’s display will bring their own modules to contribute!

If you are planning on bringing a module please be sure to carefully read through the specifications to ensure that it will fit with the rest of the modules in the build. If you need inspiration, be sure to have a look at the results of the Bad Day In Micropolis Contest that was hosted by our friend Chris at ReasonablyClever.com or any of the images on Flickr tagged with “Micropolis”.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone next week in Chicago!

Take a look at the official press release or plan for on the following public viewing dates:

• Cathedral of Saint Paul model
  May 17 – June 7
  Cathedral of Saint Paul, Ryan Room (lower level)
  Hours: The Cathedral is open seven days a week for visitors, guests, and parishioners.
  Sunday-Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• State Capitol model
  May 26 – June 7
  Minnesota State Capitol
  Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.
• Both models together
  • June 8 – July 1
    Minnesota History Center
  • July 11
    Mall of America (near LEGO® Land)
  • Aug. 27 – Sept. 7
    Minnesota State Fair Education Building

The print article in the paper should appear soon (likely tomorrow – Saturday March 7)

[Updated to put a direct link to the video]

We would like to thank everyone for bringing all of their Micropolis modules. The resulting assembly was stunning in it’s size, diversity, and was a perfect showcase of the building skills of the individuals in the group. Pictures of the assembled city should be available from several sources soon.