Boxes and Booze 9/9/23 Boxes and Booze 9/9/23

Feeling Lucky

In 1894 Charles Fey introduced the world’s first slot machine, the “Liberty Bell”.

Boxes and Booze 9/2/23 Boxes and Booze 9/2/23

Animal Cruelty

The story begins in 1975, when the Japanese amusement ride company TOGO released Mogura Taij (Mole Buster), a franticly fun mole smashing game invented by Kazuo Yamada.

Boxes and Booze 8/26/23 Boxes and Booze 8/26/23

Putting It In Writing

It should come as no surprise that I am particularly fond of “meta” objects, which embrace this world I dwell in each week – puzzle boxes that are themselves about writing, or stories, or, of course, spirits

Boxes and Booze 8/19/23 Boxes and Booze 8/19/23

Triple Play

It’s always exciting to welcome new designers here, and it’s high time for another such introduction.

Boxes and Booze 8/12/23 Boxes and Booze 8/12/23

Footloose and …

From the distant depths of the world beyond, something glimmers.

Boxes and Booze 8/5/23 Boxes and Booze 8/5/23

Rising Above

Dee Dixon is on a roll. Or at least, his newest puzzle box is, if placed on end at the top of a slope.

Boxes and Booze 7/29/23 Boxes and Booze 7/29/23

Knight Rider

Any witch or wizard worth their wand and in need of transportation, because they are too young to aparate or too old to bother, knows all that is required is to hail the bus.

Boxes and Booze 7/22/23 Boxes and Booze 7/22/23

What about BOB?

Kagen Sound is trying something new. The American master of finely crafted secret opening boxes is incorporating electronics now, but at least in this case, the batteries are included.

Boxes and Booze 7/15/23 Boxes and Booze 7/15/23

Keeping Cool

The record heat wave we are experiencing in Texas has a lot of folks reaching for an ice cold refreshment. I reached for an entire refrigerator and freezer unit.

Boxes and Booze 7/8/23 Boxes and Booze 7/8/23

Dialed In

Something special typically surfaces around this time of year, out of the cold winter weather experienced in the southern hemisphere, on the other side of the world from my spot on earth.

Boxes and Booze 7/1/23 Boxes and Booze 7/1/23

Haute Springs

Japan has a wealth of natural wonders, not least of which are the famed hot springs (onsen) found in mountainous regions which are caused by geothermal volcanic activity.

Boxes and Booze 6/24/23 Boxes and Booze 6/24/23

Fine Wine

Lodeve, in the south of France within the Occitania region, is distinguished for its lush green hills and vineyards.

Boxes and Booze 6/17/23 Boxes and Booze 6/17/23

Simpleton

Simplicity of design and elegance in motion can make for historically great inventions or products throughout history. The same can be said for puzzles.

Boxes and Booze 6/10/23 Boxes and Booze 6/10/23

Cloak of Invisibility

The Ninja, and related Shinobi warriors, were prominent in 15th century Japan during the Sengoku period.

Boxes and Booze 6/3/23 Boxes and Booze 6/3/23

Ship Shape

On June 8, 1879, George Washington issued the first official presidential order in United States history.

Boxes and Booze 5/27/23 Boxes and Booze 5/27/23

Voyages Extraordinaires – Part I

In 1866 (so the story goes) nations around the globe begin sighting a mysterious sea monster.

Boxes and Booze 5/20/23 Boxes and Booze 5/20/23

Red Handed

A staple of the northern European diet for over three thousand years, the tasty sardine and its big brother the herring can be enjoyed raw, salted, pickled and dried, just to name a few common preparations.