A spirited journey through the world of collectible artisan puzzles
Pairing craft cocktails with crafty puzzles
Happy Hour
Puzzle historians will be well familiar with the works of Angelo John Lewis, an English lawyer and avid magician, who catalogued a compendium of puzzles of the Victorian era.
On the Record
Franz Rudolph Wurlitzer was a German immigrant to the United States who started a music company in 1853 based out of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Elementary
The game is afoot again at Cabal Manor, in Victorian era England, where noted naturalist and collector Sir Charles Allen resided, up until quite recently, that is. Mystery and intrigue abound here, along with a colorful cast of characters who are joined, naturally, by the world’s foremost consulting detective.
Playing With Your Food
The traditional dish of fermented soybeans, known as natto, has been a staple of Japanese diet for millennia.
CAPTCHA Your Imagination
Artificial Intelligence is all around us. Like it or not, AI is going to expand rapidly and exponentially based on how quickly technology in general advances in the current era. We might as well embrace it, like many artists are currently doing.
It’s Complicated
Perry McDaniel understands a lot - about the fine art of precision crafting in wood, about what makes for a great puzzle, and most certainly about the subject at hand, a successful marriage.
Matters of the Heart
They say you never forget your first love, and it’s likely true with puzzle boxes too. I’d argue that with a Mowen’s puzzle box, on the other hand, you might try not to forget, but try as you might, you’ll get lost every time – and probably love every moment all over again.
Rival Arrival
Lex Luther, Dr. Doom, Magneto, Joker – arch enemies are easy to identify in hero centric fiction, and always seem to be the evil characters. I’m particularly fond of Moriarty, if we’re picking favorites.
A Rice By Any Other Name
According to Wikipedia, Onigiri, which is also known as Omusubi, Nigirimeshi, or simply, rice ball, “is a Japanese food made from white rice formed into triangular or cylindrical shapes and often wrapped in nori”
You’ve Got Mail
There’s something thrilling about receiving mail. Perhaps the excitement of getting a physical letter from someone wears off as we get older, likely tempered by all the bills and junk mail, but even now in my jaded days it’s still nice when that happens. And if getting a special letter is a nice surprise, well I don’t need to tell you what it’s like to receive an eagerly awaited puzzle box.
Cafe Society
In 1894, German-American psychologist Hugo Munsterberg described a peculiar observation, that when blocks of light and dark high contrast are staggered in rows, parallel lines drawn between the rows appear to be crooked.
Coastal Living
There was a time, once upon a time in the not too distant past, when becoming a metagrobolotegestolomixologist was merely a speculative thought experiment meant as clever wordplay.
Making Waves
In ancient Greek lore, the Titan Cronus was overthrown by his children, the gods Zeus, Hades and Poseidon, who divided the skies, the seas and the underworld amongst themselves.
The Lost City
In 1905, French author Maurice Leblanc introduced the world to a charismatic aristocrat who often operated as a force for good from the opposite side of the law, a “gentleman thief” if you will, named Arsène Lupin.
Year of the Dragon
It’s time to celebrate bravery, creativity and innovation here at Boxes and Booze – because it’s the Year of the Dragon!
Stream of Consciousness
The Hollywood writer’s strike is over! We can now proceed with our regularly scheduled programming and bring you the next episode of idiot Boxes and Boob tubes ….
Feeling Frosty
It’s been really cold here in Houston over the past week or two, and any time the temperature gets below freezing the city goes into crisis mode. We can’t handle the cold!
Whale of a Tale
Call me Ishmael … no, that doesn’t sound right. You can’t start anything good with a line like that. Hmmm … Call me Idan.