Christoph Niemann/NYT

Since July, the New York Times has featured a blog, Abstract City, by Christoph Niemann. Niemann is an accomplished illustrator; he does covers for The New Yorker, The NYT Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, and others, and he is also a children’s book author.  Niemann now lives in Berlin with his young sons and his wife, but he seems to miss New York. His blog is filled with clever and charming visual love notes to the city.

Christoph Niemann/NYT

In today’s post, he writes, “During the cold and dark Berlin winter days, I spend a lot of time with my boys in their room. And as I look at the toys scattered on the floor, my mind inevitably wanders back to New York.” He posted a series of photographs of New York-related things he sees in simple Lego constructions.  Above, for example, both cream cheese and cream cheese with scallions!  In another, a “pickle” sits next to a taxi meter, a Subway Series, and a wad of $20 bills.

- Jen Snow