As always, here’s the latest LEGO news here at Brick Architect and from around the web…

This month at Brick Architect

• Article: Tom Alphin on ‘For the Love of Brick’ podcast!
  I hope you listen to my interview at the ‘For the Love of Brick’ podcast. This article includes behind-the-scenes photos and links to complement your listening experience!
• Update: LEGO Brick Labels v36
  This update adds labels for 78 new parts to the LEGO Brick Labels collection! This includes 17 new parts which were just released this year!

Upcoming Events

• May – November, 2021 – LEGO® House Live Tours from History Collection
  Five hour-long virtual tours will be offered in 2021, exploring the hstory of The LEGO Group starting in 1932. The first tour is May 6th, and two different time slots are available for each tour.
  The online event is 50 DKK (About $8).

Exciting new sets for AFOLs

A bunch of really interesting new sets were recently announced. These are a few of my favorites:

• LEGO Star Wars
  With May the 4th nearly here, pick up your favorite Star Wars sets!
  Purchases over $85 receive a free microscale Tattoine Homestead set through 5/5 – or while supplies last. At LEGO.com
• #21326 Winnie the Pooh
  The latest addition to the LEGO Ideas product line is a cute scene based on the popular childrens story. The highlight for many will be the selection of custom moulded minfigures.
  1265 pieces for $99.99 (99.99€ / £89.99), Available now at LEGO.com

Best articles from around the web

We can’t include every article in the past month, so here are a few of my favorites…

• AUTHOR UPDATE #4: THE SECRET LIFE OF LEGO® BRICKS
  LEGO Superfan Daniel Konstanski is writing one of the nerdiest books about LEGO. In researching the book, he captured 600 pages of notes from interviews with LEGO Employees. The book will be released in 2022, but you can only buy a copy by pleding your support in the next 30 days!
  —LEGO Ideas
• 1×5 plate spotted in Vidiyo set
  One of the most wanted parts is apparently on it’s way… The 1×5 plate will allow stronger connections when building odd-width structures. (Only time will tell if this becomes a mainstream part or not.)
  —Brickset
• 10 Things I Learned by Building LEGO Skyscrapers
  In this two-part article, guest blogger Deep Shen shares learnings from building numerous intricately-detailed large-scale skyscraper models!
  —BrickNerd
• LEGO Masters (USA) Season 2 cast revealed with 12 teams
  Not only is Season two of LEGO Masters premiering on June 1, but we can see the 12 teams competing for the $100,000 top prize.
  —Brothers Brick
• Predictably, the new LEGO Adidas trainers have already sold out in the UK
  In a surprise to nobody, The LEGO Group × Adidas second exclusive shoe for adults sold out immediately, to the dissapointment of fans and advantage of scalpers.
  —Brick Fanatics
• LEGO Group Ranked as One of World’s Most Reputable Company 2021
  Reports about the best companies should be taken with a grain of salt, but it is interesting to see The LEGO Group at the top of the chart..
  —Toys N Bricks

Best podcast episodes:

This month, another new LEGO podcast was launched. Happy Listening!

• Tom Alphin – Brick Architect (1:05:23)
  Here’s a direct link to my interview with Greg McDonald about The LEGO Architect book, LEGO Brick Labels, LEGO Storage, Buiding MOC’s and much more!
  —For the Love of Brick
• Marcel Bonnici – Astonishing Studios (43:54)
  Another episode of For the Love of Brick makes the list this month… I loved hearing about both the technical challenges in making LEGO Vending machines, but also in creating a strong social media brand and working with multinational sponsors.
  —For the Love of Brick
• S1E3 – Extra Pieces Ulysses Fallout; Building Super Heros; Looney Tunes Minfigures; Wishing upon a Classic Castle (52:54)
  Richard from The Rambling Brick, and Jay from Jay’s Brick Blog have combined forces in this new podcast which covers the latest LEGO news in a casual conversational format. They are both extremely knowledgeable fans, so you are in good hands!
  —Extra Pieces
• A Fabled History (1:01:13)
  The Bits n’ Bricks podcast only planned to create a single season celebrating the 25 year history of LEGO Video Games. Due to popular demand, they will be back with a second season soon. In the meantime, this excellent episode looks back at the long history of LEGO games with interviews with heavy hitters at The LEGO Group Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen (former CEO and grandson of the founder of the LEGO Group), and Jørgen Vig Knudstorp (executive chairman of LEGO Brand Group).
  —Bits N’ Bricks