Frequently Asked Questions
Think of this page as a quick guide to get answers to your hard hitting questions that may be on your mind. If you have any additional questions for us, you can always reach out to us to learn more about Charm City LUG.
General LEGO Knowledge
LEGO is a building toy system based on interlocking plastic bricks patented and manufactured by The LEGO Group (TLG), a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. As of 2021, LEGO was the largest toy company in the world. The LEGO Group began manufacturing the interlocking bricks in 1949, and as of 2015, 600 billion LEGO parts have been produced.
Although traditionally LEGO has been considered a children’s toy, focused on ages 5-14, LEGO can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Even if you don’t feel you are a particularly creative or skilled at building, LEGO can be played with in any number of ways, from story telling, building, or featured as an art medium.
Almost any toy store will feature LEGO products available for sale, however there are special LEGO Stores run by The LEGO Group where you can find the complete offering of current LEGO products. You can also shop from home through the LEGO Website.
LEGO® can be washed by hand, using warm and mild soap. Sometimes a gentle toothbrushing can help. But be sure to not get electric parts wet! You can also put LEGO® in a mesh lingerie-type bag and wash it in the dishwasher or clothes washer, if:
- The parts won’t fall out through the holes in the mesh bag
- You have low/cold temperature water
- You dry them with no heat
It is best to wash clear pieces or minifigs by hand to avoid scratches and worn faces.
*Please remember all soaps and cleaning products can have different effects, so be cautious before washing your LEGO.
Charm City LUG
Charm City LUG is an officially recognized LEGO Users Group (RLUG) offering a community for Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOL) based in Baltimore, Maryland and its surrounding region.
Through displays across the state and fan conventions nationwide, our primary goal is to foster the enjoyment of the LEGO brand as a toy, a social toy, and an art medium.
Charm City LUG is open to all LEGO enthusiasts over the age of 18, regardless of background.
Some of our members have over 30 years of building experience with LEGO, while others have newly discovered the hobby. Similarly some members enjoy the collecting aspect of the hobby, while others focus their energy on building original creations, commonly referred to a MOC (My Own Creation). All of these interests are welcome, and encouraged. Our diversity is our strength and contributes to the wealth of knowledge and experiences that we share among our membership.
You can join Charm City LUG by applying online at www.charmcitylug.com. There is a big red button at the top of the page with a sign up form for you to provide your contact information and start getting details about upcoming events and activities.
Active membership is defined by the LUG Bylaws and qualifies members for special benefits throughout the year.
Currently, the Charm City LUG dues are $0 per year. Instead, active membership status is determined by activity in recent LUG affiliated meetings and events over the past 12 months.
Charm City LUG holds monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of each month from 6:00pm onwards. These meetings usually wrap up around 7:30pm, but may include an optional post-meeting dinner and extra social activity.
During these meetings we:
- Hold themed build challenges,
- Discuss recent set reviews and LEGO news,
- Hold presentations from members highlighting interesting build techniques and projects they are working on,
- Discuss and plan for upcoming public events and shows all around the region and nation in which the LUG is represented by member builders showing off their work.
Outside of monthly meetings, members meet for sorting parties, collaborative build projects, public and private build events, and general socialization.
You can invite Charm City LUG to display at an upcoming event, by filling out our online form, or by sending us an email at charmcitylug@gmail.com describing the details and schedule of your event.
We are always looking for new venues to host displays, and love to show off our creations at libraries, musuems and cultural centers, or anywhere that will have us!
Joining a LUG is a great way to develop your skills and to beef up your LEGO collection. At our meetings and online forums, we constantly share techniques and offer feedback on each other’s builds. We also help each other out by sharing information about sales, deals and clearances on LEGO that we find.
Remember, LEGO and Charm City LUG is not a competition. You don’t need to own more LEGO, build more or bigger than anyone else. Do what brings you joy! Some people enjoy the LUG and LEGO as a fun collectable, while others enjoy the challenge of translating a build idea into reality through brick. There is no wrong way to be an Adult Fan of LEGO (AFOL)!