Dark Fairy Door

Some Enchanted Evening

“Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!” - William Butler Yeats

Dark Fairy Door by Tracy Clemons

I’m not surprised that the idea of a Fairy Door caught the fancy of more than one artist in the wide world. After all, those of us who are willing to admit that we are fascinated by puzzle boxes clearly embrace our inner child, and the artists who create these marvels tap into that world every day. American artist Tracy Clemons relates seeing the original Fairy Door puzzle by Greek artist Mike Toulouzas at a puzzle gathering in Rochester (it was technically a “picnic”) in 2016, and was immediately inspired. A few years later she noticed Canadian artist Kelly Snache had put his own spin on the idea, with his “Puddleduck Pastures” box, itself a direct homage to Toulouzas’s creation. Clemons, who loves puzzles with locks and keys, couldn’t resist anymore and set out to make her own version of the fairy door puzzle, and the results are sensational.

Tracy must know a thing or two about fairies, because she captures their dark and mischievous side perfectly in her creation, the “Dark Fairy Door”. Her puzzle is big and heavy, the size of a small chest, and features a uniquely styled door on each side. Because there are knobs and other details surrounding each of the four remaining sides of the puzzle, these doors become the default top and bottom. It’s not clear which door is the actual entrance – at least not until the puzzle begins. Tracy created eight of these puzzles in total (so far) and gave each a unique style for the door and overall theme. They are all quite beautiful, rendered in colorful exotic hardwoods including her signature mahogany, as well as poplar, walnut, oak, paduak and others. She has rendered whimsical little details all around with a hot wood burning tool.

Beautiful external details are unique to each box

Exploring this mysterious double door delight starts to reveal a few things that can move. There are twisty knobs all around, and the sound of things shifting or rattling deep inside. Like many of Tracy’s boxes, there are puzzles within puzzles here, a special key, and a surprise ending. Which door is the correct door to open? The answer is neither, and both. No surprises there really. One of the doors seems to open eventually, almost, but not quite. Apparently many people attempted to force this one, not remembering that nothing is ever stuck or misaligned in a Clemons puzzle. If the door is not opening all the way, the puzzle has not been solved yet. The other door hides a puzzle, a set of twenty pentominos, which pose a true challenge for reassembly and hide a secret beneath them. If the outer doors can be successfully navigated, by way of many sequential moves involving every aspect of the box and a special key, the true heart of the puzzle will be found hiding inside – a final puzzle box containing a magical coin ring. Tracy grew up seeing her father create similar rings out of silver coins, and thought they would make a perfect fairy treasure. But how can the box be opened? And for what purpose are all of the many items and pieces found with it?

Tracy has created something truly interesting and special for the finale here. The true fairy door is the one that cannot been seen – to solve the endgame and unlock the treasure, the final door must be constructed accurately and precisely with the pieces discovered inside. Only when it is complete, and properly unlocked and opened, can the treasure ring be claimed. This requires a fair bit of magic! The Dark Fairy Door is absolutely wonderful, one of Tracy’s best creations ever, and an easy favorite.

Enchanted Forest

To toast this magical journey requires something equally enchanting. Fairies have been associated with the bitter liqueur absinthe since the Belle Epoche, a period we have visited on numerous occasions in the past. The Bohemians were enamored of the drink, which they called “La Fee Verte”, the Green Fairy. Famed English mixologist Dick Bradsell acknowledged the history of the drink when he created his “Green Fairy” cocktail, using absinthe as the base spirit in a classic sour. This was the drink we used to toast another in this Fairy Door series of puzzles. It’s a delicious way to enjoy absinthe in a cocktail.

A mysterious, complex and beguiling potion

But getting lost in the forest is what the Dark Fairy Door is all about, and I’ve wandered off the path for this toast. To the classic Green Fairy cocktail I’ve added the lightly bitter and refreshing aperitif Lillet, some gin, and a touch of sweetness with honey and the bergamot liqueur Italicus. It’s truly decadent, mysterious and enchanting. Be careful or it might make you lose your way as well. Cheers!

Fair well, pair well

Enchanted Forest

1 ½ oz gin

1 oz Lillet

1 oz absinthe

1 oz lemon

¼ oz Italicus

¼ oz Tupelo honey

Shake together with ice and strain into a favorite glass. Enchanted citrus peel garnish using ruby red grapefruit, pomelo, meyer lemon, lime and blood oranges can be substituted for a simple lemon twist if you must.

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