Advent Madness: CITY Day 24

Advent Madness Day Twenty Four

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Snowball Girl and Snowman

You know, LEGO didn't do too bad with the CITY Advent this year. Sure there were a few repeat sub-themes, and there were days where the mini-models made no sense at all - but, looking back at the calendar as a whole... It was a fun trip.

And this trip comes to an end with Day 24 - a final self-contained sub-theme to keep everyone happy and busy while they eye the rectangular boxes under the tree and hope they contain more LEGO sets.

This year Santa is again strangely absent - in his place is a wintery duo of a Snowman and mini-figure. Maybe she's the snowman's sculptor. Maybe she's a random passer-by. All I know for sure is that the extra parts that don't go directly into the Snowman's construction leaves me wondering if the LEGO designers didn't end the calendar with some juvenile humor about snowballs.

As far as Snowmen go, this is an interesting take on their construction. It's certainly recognizable - while somehow remaining extremely abstract in form. The tophat and broom give the Snowman instant credibility - despite the fact that he has no face.

The accompanying mini-figure is pretty unimpressive - standard hair, head, torso and legs. An overall is probably not the best outfit for playing in snow, but I guess the designers had their reasons.

Leaked set information for 2009 suggests that this time next year we'll be wrapping up the 2009 CITY Advent. Will it improve on the 2008 release? Or will we spend the Holidays weeping for lost opportunities?

Tell you what. You show up again to read about the Advent next year - and I'll take the time to write about it. Deal?

Advent Madness: CITY Day 23

Advent Madness Day Twenty Three

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Snowmobile!

Okay, I know I'm a grumpy, grumpy guy when it comes to the CITY advent calendar. But I have to admit, LEGO is doing a decent job of bringing this year's effort to a close. Here on day 23 we have the end of the last two-day "Snow Guy" theme - and it's a pretty nice mini-model of a snow mobile.

True, there's nothing too challenging about the construction, but it looks good. And that, my friends, the key to a nice advent door. A model all ages can complete, but that you don't feel bad about pushing along the floor making Bruummm-Brummm motor-noises.

If I had to find a gripe I guess I could talk about how this is actually a sled - there's no motor or drive system apparent. But I didn't notice that until after I started in on the sound effects, so I'm going to ignore the whole issue.

Historically, the 24th door on the CITY Advent has held a fairly elaborate set. How much Holiday Spirit will LEGO be able to pack into that final baggie of parts? Enough to win me over so that I'll buy next years CITY advent?

I'm looking forward to finding out!

Advent Madness: CITY Day 22

Advent Madness Day Twenty Two

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Mountain Climber

As we enter the final days of the CITY Advent we see the welcome return of Winter-Themed figures. I'll admit it's a very Northern Hemisphere-Centric view, but, darn it, I expect to see some Snow and Ice as part of my Christmas Festivities.

Today's Mini-figure does seem decked out for cold weather - a nice knit hat, winter-y white backpack and warm sweater. And Ice Picks. Two of them.

None of the parts are particularly rare - even the white backpack has appeared in Star Wars and Mars Mission sets - but the combo is nicely assembled.

This should be a short-lived theme - one mini-model on the 23rd with a new "final theme" on the 24th. Are the ice picks a hint? Maybe we'll see an ice wall or something for him to climb. It'd be an interesting tie-in to the Sports theme. Well, whatever it is, I just hope it's something cool and different.

C'mon LEGO...we're all counting on you...

Advent Madness: CITY Day 21

Advent Madness Day Twenty One

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Pallet of Bottles

You know, for a mini-theme this one has been pretty interesting. The Train/Construction Worker who started things off was kind of bland (if mysterious in job description) but the mini-models have been original and fun.

Today's supplement of a pallet of bottles is simple in its construction, but still easily recognizable. The transparent-black cones will be easy to reuse in post-Advent creations and there a bunch of them, always a plus.

Looking at all three sets together you get an image of someone actually doing something. This man has bottles - and he needs to put them somewhere else. And he has just the tool to do it.

I love it when a plan comes together like that.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 20

Advent Madness Day Twenty

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Palette Jack with extra bits

I've spent far too much time wandering around stock rooms - today's mini-model was an easy one for me to recognize. It's a palette jack - here's a video of one in action.

As far as mini-models go, I'm happy with this one. It's not a common item, but it's well rendered and has some non-standard construction to it. (The light-clip plates as wheels is a particularly nice touch.)

Now, what this has to do with Construction...or Trains....or the Construction of Trains...I have no idea. This sub-theme is still taking shape, I guess.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 19

Advent Madness DayNineteen

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Train/Construction Worker

Did you see the Aliens 3? Remember when the alien bred with the dog to create some sort of dog/alien hybrid? Apparently something like that is happening today as we have what appears to be a typical Construction Worker - but his insignia brands him as part of the train-sub-theme.

Clearly he is evil incarnate, just waiting to destroy the other CITY minifigures and drink from their severed heads.

Or not.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 18

Advent Madness Day Eighteen

CITY
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A Crook!

Now THIS was a shock. I opened today's door and thought I had made a big mistake. No, I had opened door number 18. And the Picture matched the mini-set behind the door. And it did fit the "Mug Shot" Police sub-theme.

But...a second mini-figure as part of a theme? This is a big break with tradition for CITY!

(Admittedly, the 2008 Castle Advent had a similar surprise with two skeletons in its Bonehouse sub-theme - but we'd pretty much established that the CITY and the Castle are two very different beasts.)

Now, as awesome as it is to have another minifigure to add to the Advent Army, I'd be untrue to my inner Grumpus not point out that we've seen this particular dude before - in 2005 he arrived on Day 6 carrying a saw. Perhaps we was up for parole this year.

Why does he come with two sets of handcuffs? Who knows? Who cares? It's a cool accessory that I don't mind having a duplicate of.

Looking ahead we have some new questions to ponder. Was this truly day three of the Cop sub-theme? Is this rather a strange bridge into an all-new Criminal 3-day-crime spree? Or another 2-day "micro theme"?

The waiting...it burnses and hurtses us.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 17

Advent Madness Day Seventeen

CITY
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Mug Shot Station

Okay, I cribbed the name of today's mini-model from Brickshelf. I had to, because I had no idea what this combination was meant to represent. Oh, I could recognize the spotlight, and the chair was a no-brainer...but how did they work together? The parts were spaced wrong for some sort of prison wall spotlight station - had I misread the spotlight and it was acutally some sort of futuristic cannon?

Apparently not.

I'm still not sure if the criminal is supposed to sit in the chair or if the cop is.

Maybe tomorrows mini-model will give us the much needed clue to complete the scene. After all, the ice-creme subtheme took a couple of days to solidify...

Advent Madness: CITY Day 16

Advent Madness Day Sixteen

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Policeman with Deluxe camera and extra lens
(Or a glass. You make the call.)

Officer Grumpypants (City Advent 2005, Day 4 and 2006, Day 16) returns. This time in a new hat and carrying a camera.

I don't have a lot to say about this one. Changing a hat and accessory is really a sad level of effort when you're trying to make a sub-theme seem new and interesting.

Oh well. Maybe I can spin it as "continuity". That those who get a LEGO Advent Calendar every year know that friendly Officer Grumpypants will be in there somewhere to keep everyone safe.

Anyone buy that?

Advent Madness: CITY Day 15

Advent Madness Day Fifteen

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Underwater Scooter with extra pin, arm, and light

I'll say this for the 2008 CITY Advent Calendar - some of the sub-sets have been pretty cool. Today's offering qualifies for the "cool" tag - this little robotic rover fits well with the Diver/Coast Guard theme and is pretty nifty in it's own right.

While the parts that make up the model aren't rare or even difficult to find, they're put together in a useful way. The final result has a polished feel to it. The robotic arms suggest play opportunities - perhaps this little guy is more "Robot" than "Scooter" - more of a sidekick to our Aquaman than a mere mode of transportation.

Anyway, a nice close to the sub-theme.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 14

Advent Madness Day Fourteen

CITY
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Life Vest, Flippers, Buoy with flag

Day two of the Coast Guard sub-theme gives us some nice accessories for the diver from Day Thirteen.

The life vest probably isn't as useful for the figure as the flippers - but at least it's in-theme.

The buoy is three parts just waiting for the post-advent building season to begin. The blue flag has only shown up in one other set - Aqua Raiders 2007's Angler Ambush. Having only one flag limits the building fun a little, but, eh, you take what you can from a sub-theme door with only six parts - and that's counting each flipper individually...

Advent Madness: CITY Day 13

Advent Madness Day Thirteen

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Aquaman with diving helmet, spear gun, and spare goggles.

(Today's photo is a bit off in the color department - the mini-figure's legs, arms and helmet are the standard LEGO blue, not some odd neon shade.)

Day Thirteen opens a new sub-theme for the CITY calendar - the Coast Guard. I have to admit, I like this little guy. In 2008 LEGO made the decision to change the torso colors on their Cost Guardians from orange-with-yellow-highlights to a yellow base. The color contrast with the blue legs and helmet is pretty striking, and helps breathe some new life into a sub-theme that's reaching the end of it's useful life.

Sadly, the figure's face is the standard "man with well defined cheekbones" making him a clone of roughly 1/4th of the LEGO figures currently in production. It's an easy flaw to overlook, however, since it's well hidden behind a helmet with the "diving goggles" accessory.

The figure's weapon - a spear gun - is cast in black - a good choice as the often-used yellow would have looked silly next to the revised torso colors.

We can expect two more days of Coast Guard themed subsets if the CITY Advent holds true to the established schedule. As the Coast Guard are rather regiment-oriented fellows, I doubt we'll see much deviation...

Advent Madness: CITY Day 12

Advent Madness Day Twelve

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Ninja-Break oven

Completing the Chef-theme is yet another take on his oven. We saw another version of this back on Day 23 of 2005 - and a much nicer version at that, sadly.

Even pretending it's a Ninja Accessory of some sort isn't helping today.

Oh well. It'll make for an interesting mini-challenge to try and build something cool out of ONLY these parts. Interesting...or maddening...

Advent Madness: CITY Day 11

Advent Madness Day Eleven

CITY
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Ninja Tarts with Extra Tartlet

The Cunning Ninja-Cook from Day Ten has prepared some deliciously deadly treats. Sure, they may look like nothing more than four red 1x1 dots on a tan disc - but they're really a killing-cuisine, a tart-of-death! Toss one of these at your foe and watch them crumble like a cookie!

At least, that's how I'm choosing to see today's items. It sure sounds like more fun than "a table with two pies and an extra red dot."

In previous CITY Advents, the Chef was cooking up some distinctly non-holiday Pizzas. It's nice to see LEGO at least making a token effort to fit this sub-theme into the larger Christmas mold - even if you have to guess exactly what it is the Chef is making.

My suggestion? Next year when the Chef-Theme rolls around again, have him making cookies. Put a sticker on a 2x2 tile if you have to, but give him some easily identifiable themed items. It probably won't happen, though. My guess is next year we'll see him baking the french-bread piece that's been around for years.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 10

Advent Madness Day Ten

CITY
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Chef with Oar

With our "Fireman and Cat" triumvirate safely completed, Day Ten features the beginning of yet another new sub-theme for the CITY advent calendar. Sadly, it's a theme we've seen again and again in the Advent universe- that of the chef.

I spent many long minutes staring at today's figure, hoping to see something new in the plain white legs, standard chef's hat and torso, and bland smile. I looked to the strangely nautical oar for possible inspiration.

And then I realized: This Chef is actually a NINJA.

Yes, LEGO tried to slip one by us by using a clever disguise, but this man is clearly a master of dozens of Eastern fighting forms, a silent killer who slips away like a surprisingly nimble flan.

I'm sure of it.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 9

Advent Madness Day Nine

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Ladder

Okay, yesterday people thought I was being too harsh on LEGO's efforts - that the "cat in the tree" mini-set deserved a super-happy review instead of the luke-warm one it received.

Maybe so.

But I defy anyone to find the silver lining in today's three parts. A 2x4 green plate. A standard black hinge plate. And a black grate.

Oh, sure, combined with the previous two days you have a nice little diorama of a fireman saving a kitten from a rough fall. It's a touching Hallmark Moment.

But evaluated on its own merits?

Today's set SUCKS.

Let's hope tomorrow starts off a new theme - and that the new theme has a bit of flair.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 8

Advent Madness Day Eight

CITY
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Kitten up a Tree

Well, this is a bit of departure from the CITY sets we've seen in the past. Sure, we're still doing a "Fireman" sub-theme, but this time it's a Pleasantville version where the fire department just waits for a call about a cat up a tree.

As far as trees go, this is a bit iffy - three fronds stuck to a rectangular pole. It's a bit more creative than the one-piece trees LEGO also produces, but to me it looks a bit too cubist. Maybe it's supposed to be a subtle slam against people who buy plastic Christmas trees over the real pine-scented deal. I doubt it, though.

The cat is also a disappointment - last year's Belville Advent also had a cat behind door eight - but that cat had printed features. Once again, LEGO's cost cutting shows through.

Still, I have to give them points for an original twist on a very tired sub-theme. When I saw the fireman yesterday, this set was pretty far down my list of expected follow-ups.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 7

Advent Madness Day Seven

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Fireman with Hand-Radio

Shocker. A three-day sub-theme completes, and now we find ourselves facing a new mini-figure introducing (we can only assume) yet another sub-theme. Or, as is the case here, a re-hash of a sub-theme.

Sure, fire fighters are cool - but every year we have a visit from virtually the same guy. Heck, it hasn't even been that long - he was behind door #1 in 2007. And in 2006 our Fireman was behind door 22 - with, may I add, much cooler accessories. The only thing that really changes from year to year is the figure's face. And it's always a common one, like today's stubbly-smirk.

But you never know. The mini-sets so far have been a pleasant departure from past adventures. Maybe Sparky here will be taking part in something unexpected as well.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 6

Advent Madness Day Six

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Ice Cream Cart? Maybe? With extra wheels, glass, and red tile.

If yesterday's sub-theme door left you with an Ice-Cream headache, get ready for a double dose behind today's door.

I'm guessing this is an Ice Cream cart. It has wheels. The picture shows the glass of ice cream sitting on it. There's a handle of sorts for a figure to push it around.

The mysterious red and blue brick combo offer no hints. The smooth "this ice cream is going to slide right off" surface of the cart remains enigmatic. The extra pieces sit an mock us quietly.

I don't like today's door. Can you tell?


Still, tomorrow should be a new theme - maybe this one will have mini-models that actually look like something.

-----
Edited to Add:

As several readers have pointed out to me, I missed an obvious connection - the items from Day 5 and Day 6 combine to form a somewhat more realistic ice-cream cart.

Well, What do you know!

That LEGO decided to stretch this out over two days seems...sad. There aren't *that* many parts involved in the final model...and the Calendar itself wasn't exactly cheap.

And, just because I'm feeling snarky, there's a problem with the playability of the model, too:

Oooh! I see ice cream!


Too bad there's no way at all I could reach it!

Anyway, thanks for those of you who wrote and commented about the combination step. I'll be on the lookout for this sort of thing for the rest of the calendar.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 5

Advent Madness Day Five

CITY
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Ice Cream Stand and extra yellow dot.

Okay, I just typed out the description for today's item, but I have to wonder - if someone had just walked up to me on the street and handed me this model to identify...would I have had a clue as to what I was looking at?

I mean, turn sideways and it's a microscale space freighter with a heat shield.

Or maybe just a random assemblage of parts.

Well, whatever it is, it's minimalist. And at least there are some fun and useful parts in there for re-use.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 4

Advent Madness Day Four

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Woman with Ice Cream

Looks like CITY Advent will, once again, be following the tried-and-true Minifigure/2 days of releated theme pattern. Yesterday closed off the Turkey Arc, today starts Dessert.

As far as Mini-figures go, "Woman" isn't overy special. The Sailboat T-Shirt has been around s1ince 1994 - and was part of the 2005 CITY Advent (Day 18, Man with Radio). The legs are standard blue, the ponytail standard black. Even the face is familiar, being around since 2004.

Her accessory is a bit questionable as well. It's ice cream - but not in a cup, cone, or glass. It's...hand held. That's GOT to be messy.

Advent Madness: CITY Day 3

Advent Madness Day Three

CITY
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Table with Fry Pan and Mug

Okay, yesterday I was kind of excited about how the CITY calendar was shaping up this year. The mini-figure wasn't too bad and the first accessory mini-set was fairly creative.

And then came day three.

Four pieces.

A 1x2 brick. A 2x3 plate. A mug. And a frying pan.

I weep for the children on the world who woke up this morning, looking forward to the fun and excitement hidden behind "Door Number Three".

Advent Madness: CITY Day 2

Advent Madness Day Two

CITY
(Open the Doors Here)

Grill 

Day two in the CITY - and, predictably, the mini-set is part of a thematic package with the Mini-figure from day one. The mystery of the Turkey Leg is solved - it's the lead in to the "Cooking on the Grill" theme. Not as holiday-ish as I had hoped.

Still, this is a fairly creative mini-set, and a new sub-theme and design for the CITY Advent universe.  The extra parts of the third top hinge and second flame are always fun to discover. 

I'll give today three out of five stars - a better than average effort from LEGO today.