700th Escape Adventure at CU Adventures in Time and Space

March 1, 2025 Brian Gondek 0

I’m going to start off my post on CU Adventures in Time and Space with a bet – Forest of Fables will be in the TERPECA top 20 this year. I’m confident enough in this that I’d put money on it, so if you want to take me up on it, send me a note and we’ll check in next year.

Schaumburg, IL: 60 to Escape – Putt Portal

February 19, 2025 Brian Gondek 0

60 to Escape has been a staple of top end Chicagoland escape rooms for some time, but their latest venture is quite the surprise- miniature golf! I had a chance to play through it this weekend, and the intriguing concept pays off, assuming you like miniature golf.

Memento #9: 20th Century Puzzle Books

February 3, 2025 Brian Gondek 0

As part of a new year’s resolution, I challenged myself and others to spread the love of puzzles with a new generation, and this week, I found a reminder of why this challenge resonates with me so much. These logic problem magazines were a godsend on long car rides in my childhood, and I always love teasing out the solutions from elaborate puzzles like these.

New Year’s Resolution

January 25, 2025 Brian Gondek 0

What was your resolution in 2025? One I’m taking on, and I’d encourage you to consider, too, is to skill up someone else in some way. Friend, family member, total stranger… It’s a tremendously worthwhile challenge to encourage someone else to learn a new skill or approach.

Seven Seasons of Korean Game Shows

December 30, 2024 Brian Gondek 0

I’ve written previously about how much Netflix’s The Devil’s Plan rocked my world. Since watching this phenomenal Korean intellectual game show, I’ve gone on a pilgrimage of watching other cerebral Korean game shows, and I’ve been loving it. The Genius, Crime Scene, Time Hotel… I’ve watched more than seven seasons of content and can’t get enough.

Kissimmee, FL: Doldrick’s Escape – Crazy Train: The Ballad of Skeemin’ Plotz

December 23, 2024 Brian Gondek 0

On my recent trip to Florida, I got to play one of the newest TERPECA finalist escape rooms – Crazy Train: The Ballad of Skeemin’ Plotz at Doldrick’s Escape. The room is remarkable in many ways – the old timey cartoon aesthetic is unique among escape rooms, and the game hits all the right marks with aesthetic and puzzle variety. The most unique thing to me, though, and something that may go unnoticed among many escape room enthusiasts, is the level of craft invested to make an escape room that will delight players of all skill levels.

Florida Again!?!?!

December 12, 2024 Brian Gondek 0

My most recent travel post was from Florida in early November. In early December, I have another Florida trip to report on. Last time, we explored the eastern coast of Florida leading up to a Caribbean cruise. This time around, we flew out early for an event in Orlando. Different circumstances, but one big commonality- the Kennedy Space Center.

Cruising 2024

November 4, 2024 Brian Gondek 0

Cruises are one of my favorite forms of travel for many reasons. The forced disconnect is perhaps the biggest one- to be separated from the world at large for several days, allowing me to save up ideas and return to life as usual with renewed energy and strategy. A close second is how many opportunities for competitive challenges there are on cruise ships.