Puzzle #6: Word Wizard
After a stretch of number puzzles, it’s time to try a words one. This one requires a little bit of work rather than relying on a “gotcha” moment, so take your time.
Articles by Brian Gondek
Anchorage, AK: Alaska Escape Rooms – The Raven’s Eye
June 1, 2018 (Flashback) – It’s about time for me to get back to the story of the journey across the Pacific Northwest, centered around a cruise from Seward, AK to Vancouver, BC. The trip began with an overnight flight from Chicago to Anchorage, and after arriving in Anchorage well before the crack of dawn, I had a few hours to spend in town.
Puzzle #5: Old and New
You know how textbooks often have a knowledge check at the end of a chapter, distilling the chapter’s lesson down into just a few core questions? This week’s puzzle is like that. It requires using the crux of at least one of the earlier puzzles (1-4) to get to the answer. Ready?
Arlington Heights, IL: “What Riddle Is That?” Jigsaw Puzzle
If you look up “summer” in the dictionary, you might find the following definition: “A two to three month window, typically between June and August, in which academic hiatuses and clement weather lead to a spike in demand for travel*.” If one were to follow the asterisk at the end of the sentence to the footnotes, he/she would find the following addendum: “An increase in demand while holding supply fixed will typically increase the equilibrium price.” What does it all mean? In short, that traveling during the summer months is really freaking expensive!
Strongsville, OH: Escape Room Strongsville – Black & White
June 23, 2018 – After reaching as far east as West Virginia, we turned around and started the long trip home. Originally the plan was to hit some non-escape room attractions on the way home, but as it worked out, I wasn’t done with solving puzzles quite yet.
Puzzle #4
This week’s puzzle is a number sequence with a little twist. What’s the twist? If I told you that, it’d be a dead giveaway! So have fun and good luck. No outside knowledge required for this one.
Morgantown, WV: Morgantown Escape Room – Excalibur
June 23, 2018 – If I’m ever asking myself if it’s worth it to travel ten hours from home for a one hour event, I can think back to my time at Morgantown Escape Room and answer with a definitive “YES!” One of my favorite things about escape rooms is getting to see the designers’ unique and clever thought processes, and the Excalibur: Saving Camelot room and the folks at Morgantown Escape room truly delivered.
Puzzle #3
Puzzle #3 is back to the basics. Once again I’m asking people to reevaluate how they look at numbers. I provide a step in the right direction by writing out the numbers in English off the bat. Looking forward to seeing who can solve this one!
Pittsburgh, PA: Escape 51 – Mission to Mars
June 22-23, 2018 – My parents met me at my home at the end of the business day Friday and tossed their bags into my car, a 2008 Suzuki SX4. Ready for an eight hour drive!
June 22 – 24: Driving Trip to Pennsylvania and West Virginia
With airfare being unfortunately high due to all the summer vacations happening right now, I didn’t expect to go very far this weekend. Wednesday night I get a text message from my parents. “We’re free for a trip this weekend. Any cheap flights?”