Diamond of the Midwest
I have a hot new recommendation for a vacation destination for anyone living in the Midwest US. Hear me out- Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Articles by Brian Gondek
Immersive Gamebox: A New Escape Room Experience
I recently had the opportunity to try out a new form of escape room- the AI Escape game at Immersive Gamebox. The setup is one of the most intriguing I’ve tried- a dynamic cube-shaped room where interactive touch-sensitive images are projected on all the walls. After giving it a shot, there’s one big question: is this the future of escape rooms?
A Very Bloody Game
I have something truly random to plug today- a subscription to a streaming service called Kocowa Plus. I’ve only been using it for one show, Bloody Game, but even just using it this way, it’s been well worth it.
700th Escape Adventure at CU Adventures in Time and Space
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
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
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
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
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
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!?!?!
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.