Timinchicago

I use Bricklink more often than PaB and have not had any problems in the 20+ orders so far. Obviously which service you use depends on the specific pieces you are looking for. I will say that the LEGO Bricks and Pieces service has gotten better, it used to be that you had to wait to get an estimate for your order. Now you see availability and the actual price per piece before you order. Recently I needed 12 BURP's. Bricklink inventory was limited and expensive. When I checked Bricks and Pieces I was able to get them for a better price than Bricklink. This is generally not the case so it depends on the pieces you need. The one drawback from using LEGO is the shipping time tends to be longer than Bricklink.

Trevi Fountain and Exo Suit for sure!

I was in the Chicago store last Friday (July 7) and they did not have any horses at that time.

The selection at the Chicago store has not changed significantly in the last 4-5 weeks. They are still highlighting the new pieces which showed up at the start of May (many airplane related parts). I will be going back again this weekend and hopefully they have something new and useful.

Very nice work, especially like the rock detail. I wish someone would post a guide on rock work as mine never turn out quite right.

This is a constant fear I have as I tend to over stuff the cups. Usually there will be some spillage as I try to cram the lid on so that at least one side of it touches!

The only new piece at the Chicago store last weekend was the 2x2 red tile, otherwise same old stuff for the past 3 weeks. Looking forward to the end of March and no more free boxes to contend with.

Stunning! Especially like the tile floors.

I also vote no. New parts is one of the things that makes LEGO so fun! New parts = more creativity.

Two of my favorites, Minas Tirith and microbuilds! Really captured the feel of the location.

That is very cool, especially the rock formation. BTW is it me or is there a lot of dust on those plates?

Yes those humidifiers and that white coating is a major problem. I used spray cans of air and it did a pretty good job, just have to be careful not to blow the delicate pieces all over the place!

I noticed that the Parisian Restaurant has many more pieces than Pet Shop yet weighs a lot less. I will say that in order to get nice details you need to use small parts.

I have been to the Water Tower place store in Chicago every week for the past month and only a few items have changed in that time. I think I will take a few weeks off until the end of the month and let all the Christmas boxes be redeemed and hopefully see some new and more interesting parts.

Yes a very good start! Is that a glass surface you are building on?