NEWS AND EVENTS

A Wednesday-to-Sunday plan for mixed ages, including the post-dinner outing that gets everyone off the couch.

Seen from the control room: the seven ways teams talk themselves out of a win, and the fix for each.

Lakefront color, Marathon weekend, golden-hour architecture walks and warm indoor plans: your downtown autumn, sorted.

A walkable two-day downtown plan for visiting friends and family, with rain backups and an escape room to anchor the evening.

Curiosity, flow, the aha moment and a ticking clock: what's really happening in your head inside an escape room.

Chill, competitive, fancy or outdoors-then-indoors: adult birthday party ideas in downtown Chicago for a table of four or a crowd of 40.

A timeline-based corporate offsite planning checklist for Chicago: venue, transit, dietary needs, the activity block and how to measure it.

Ten unwritten rules of escape room etiquette that make the hour better for your team, your game master and the room itself.

Ten parent-tested spring break activities in downtown Chicago that teenagers will actually enjoy, escape rooms included.

Experience Chicago's vibrant St. Paddy's Day with our insider guide.

Daytime plans, sober-friendly stops and a private escape room before dinner: a Chicago bachelorette or bachelor itinerary everyone enjoys.

January to March is planning season and onboarding season. Nine team building ideas downtown, each with a one-line "best for."

Experience gifts beat stuff. Who an escape room gift card suits, how to make it feel special, and how to turn it into a night out.

Too small for a venue buyout, too big for a dinner table? Holiday party plans for teams of 6 to 20, with and without alcohol.

Zodiac is the intense pick; The Bank, Bunker and Prison are thrilling without the fear. Here's how to choose for your Halloween crew.

A headcount-by-headcount guide to booking the right escape room setup, from a pair to a company of 120.

In-service ideas, student leadership plans and downtown field-trip logistics for a back-to-school team building day.

Rain in the forecast? Fourteen downtown plans sorted by mood, all a short walk from an L stop.

A walking guide to summer in the South Loop, written from the lower level of the Dearborn Galleria.

From 8th-grade promotions to doctoral hoods: party plans by age, group size and budget, all within reach of downtown.

Nervous about your first escape room? Here is everything we wish every new player knew before the door closes.

A manager's guide to the twenty minutes after the game, where a fun outing turns into a better team.

Fifteen warm, walkable ways to enjoy downtown Chicago when the wind chill says stay inside.

Flip the script on date night…Plus a special bonus!

Sounds too good to be true? It really isn’t!

Let the gaming go real, with puzzles, strategy, and live-action escapes.

Time to crack down on doom-scrolling through slop!

From Christkindlmarket & Randolph Street Holiday Market to the Holiday Native Art Market, Pre-Kwanzaa Holiday Marketplace, and more!

All of the fun and none of the fear you're fearful of...

Make the bride-to-be go WOW!!!

Windy City visit times—Tourist guide.

Where to stay during your trip/staycation in the Windy City!

Birthdays, of course! What else?

Ready for the 46th Chicago Marathon?

Along with restaurant recommendations.

From playing tips to parkour escape rooms, and hiring a detective to cheat!

From somewhat creepy to downright terrifying…Including ones with gore & live actors!

Engage everyone with the like-minds game—a fun, easy-to-play activity!

End summer with Chicago’s best Labor Day events and festivities.

How to stay calm and focus on finding clues to escape the room!

Welcome autumn in Chicago with festivals, leaf-peeping, and more!

Get those taste buds in high gear!

Guess which escape room they played…Can you win that game?

Rock out at Lollapalooza Chicago - starting August 1st!

Discover Chicago's top Fourth of July celebrations: Fireworks, races, parades, and much more!

Memorial Day in Chicago? Expect fireworks, festivals, and unforgettable fun!

Catch Chicago’s 2024 summer highlight, the 2024 NASCAR Chicago Street Race at Grant Park. It takes place over the Fourth of July weekend. Expect live music by Keith Urban and The Black Keys, food, and many other family-friendly activities.

Refresh & recharge for the coming week!

Here’s what you should know!

Explore parks, trails, and beaches for unmatched outdoor fun in Chicago.

We’ve handpicked games and activities for a wide variety of occasions!

WOW the bride-to-be with a killer party in Chicago!

Chicago's best escape rooms for you and your partner in crime ;)

Addressing common doubts & fears about the experience.

Elevate teen engagement with creative, easy-to-setup team building activities.

Chicago's Easter joy awaits—unleash your springtime spirit!

Have mad fun with these engaging and creative pen & paper games!

Transform team dynamics with escape rooms' unique, collaborative challenges.

From secret bars to rooftop thrills, experience Chicago's unique wonders!

Unlock innovative team engagement ideas for effective leadership growth.

Explore love's journey with Chicago's top romantic experiences for couples.

Uncover engaging activities that foster teamwork and holiday cheer.

Unveil Chicago's hidden gems: unique, fun-filled group experiences await.

The ultimate guide to Chicago's vibrant, youthful adventures.

Unlock effective team building strategies for Chicago's diverse business landscape.

Chicago’s top venue for a daylong team building event!

They’ll all say it “Feels like team spirit”!

Updated for 2024.

Chicago's festive spirit unveiled: iconic events, hidden treasures, and more.

Craft a memorable Halloween with our escape room party guide.

Make the spookiest night of the year simply epic!

From scenic parks to vibrant nightlife: your ultimate guide to Chicago's heart.

From parks to cultural landmarks - here’s what you MUST explore!

Transform your engagement into a unique, adventurous, and memorable event.

There’s something for everyone - music lovers and non-lovers alike!

Look beyond the fast and furious race for July’s 1st weekend!

Discover the secret to engaging and effective corporate events.

Discover what it is that the game master does to make your escape experience AWESOME (spoiler alert: it’s a lot!)

Gain an edge with our four curated escape room strategies!

Uncover the brain-boosting science behind puzzles!

Unlock the power of team synergy with escape rooms!

Here’s how we can help!

Yes, they should! Read on to find out why!

Your search is over!

Feeling lonely? Don’t ignore it - here’s why!

They (the team) will thank you for it!

How we prepared ourselves to attend!

Attention, all amateur detectives and Wes Craven fans!

We’ll be at the 2023 summit!

Should you add us to your event portfolio?

Mr. Fox is a huge fan!

Want to Sherlock your way through an escape adventure with only Watson by your side, but not sure whether it’ll be an enjoyable experience?

Windy City must-do’s that are guaranteed to earn their approval and find a place on their Instagram feed!

Love your escape room team photo? Here's how to enter for a chance to be featured on our social media pages and at our physical location!

Updated for Valentine’s Day 2025.

Here’s to a Fabulous February in the Windy City!

Teen-friendly group activities that’ll instill values like team spirit, collaboration, and quick thinking.

11 teamwork-inspiring games that you can organize at home, with little to no materials needed!

Here’s how to begin the new year on a high amidst the icy expanse that is Chicago!

Your search ends here!

They can help you make your small business go big!

Fact-checking assertions and setting the record straight.

From unskippable events to fun activities, there’s something for everyone!

The best 31st Nite party options in our city!

Learn about some of the most important benefits of off-site events.

Here are the best ways to feel the magic of Christmas 2022 in Chicago!

Planning a successful team building event doesn't have to be rocket science!

'Tis the season for social gatherings and office parties!

Get ready for a team building session that will blow your mind!

You’re in for an awesome time!

Give your team a unique identity and your teammates a drive to succeed with a well-chosen team name.

Don’t feel like attending the coming team building event? Allow us to convince you otherwise!

The advantages & disadvantages of escape room team building; plus a few tips on how to select the best escape room for your group.

Things to do together that will draw everyone away from their devices and towards each other.

Yeah, you read that right. We’re going to talk about team building’s DISADVANTAGES in this blog post.

Believe it or not, a good team building event can boost your balance sheet by improving productivity.

Kickass activities for an epic team building and team bonding event!

This is going to be fun!

Thrilling and family-friendly escape rooms that the kiddies will enjoy!

Awesome attractions and experiences that will keep you riveted throughout the month!

Time to rev up your special day with some party activities that you’ve never done before!

How to make that coming birthday the best one yet!

Things to do in Chicago that will get a thumbs up from your kids!

The best ways to experience Chicago as an adult - revealed!

Do you have a list of your own? Let’s compare notes!

Easy to set up, requiring no special skills to play, and fun with an upper case ‘F’, these games will make your get-together come alive!

Make that birthday party bigger, bolder, and better!

Hope this helps you plan a one-of-a-kind trip through downtown Chicago, a.k.a. The Loop!

The best places to escape the freezing cold, pouring rain, or horribly humid days in Chicago.

It opened its doors during November 2020.

Here’s the best the Windy City has to offer!

…that your family, friends, colleagues and other loved ones will never see coming!

Keep your calendar free from Thursday July 28th, till Sunday July 31st!

Have a Magnificent March!

We sure as heck are!

TLDR; escape rooms are a thrilling, memorable activity that pits the entire team against a shared challenge.

Part I of a 2-part series. Some ground rules.

Jokes aside, many of these are crucial life skills that you must have.

From a family friendly flower show to a boozy bar crawl; from couple activities on Valentine’s Day to a spectacular auto show…here are the biggest events and activities in Chicago.

Part II of our two-part series on January 2022 in Chicago.

Part I of our two-part series on January 2022 in Chicago.

Which one will your children love the most?

How you can end the holiday season in style.

Let this Chicagoan reveal to you the people’s favorites!

Some facts that might sound outlandish, but are actually true.

Experience Christmas like you have never experienced it before!

This calls for a celebration!

Read this before you finalize your plans for the big day!

Mr. Fox ponders...would his brethren appreciate the escape room experience?

Do you have a favorite? Are they on this list?

Here’s how you can make the most out of 2021’s final month with only thirty days.

Then you gotta read this!

From forging personal connections between employees to fighting attrition, firms see myriad benefits in team-building trips.

Be prepared to lose yourself in a foodie fantasy!

Here’s how you can make the best possible use of that!

Chicago’s newest street festival has just come to an end.

Sundays on State is back!

Who will YOU be going with?

The very first time you...

Don’t tell me you’re not going!

Here’s what we know so far…

Complete how-to and links included!

Time to take in a whiff of that fresh air and enjoy yourself in Chicago!

Was it in Chicago?

Which one do you like the best?

...your friend might, and pull one of these April 1st gags on you!

5 arrests have been made so far…

...that occurs every SEVENTEEN years?

...that won’t help you in 99.9% of escape rooms around the world.

There’s a song for every emotion.

...are your options really up for debate?

Escape rooms started off as point-and-click adventure flash games that can be played on web browsers. During COVID times, many escape room venues are going back to where it all started. 

Meet up with friends, and have dinner together! Here’s how.

...including how not to let COVID-19 turn into The Grinch.

Live remote rooms are very different from in person escape rooms, and that means that preparing for the remote room is very different as well.  Hopefully this will help prepare you to enjoy your Live Remote experience!

Mr. Fox’s Holiday Challenge.

A few tidbits about Thanksgiving, plus a guide on celebrating Thanksgiving in 2020, especially if you’re in Chicago.

Watch out what you do when you’re in the Windy City, stranger!

Are you prepared?

We’ve been BYOB for years! No booze, though.

Celebrating this occasion has been a tradition for over five hundred years. Only, this year, we have a party pooper by the name of COVID.

banner image courtesy of geralt from Pixabay

The beginning of October is not only marked by leaves changing color and the air getting cooler. October also kicks off with two special days that mean a great deal to us.

Small businesses in Chicago are hurting from COVID-19 restrictions. Here’s what you can do to help.

As a responsible employer, we place great importance on keeping our employees safe and reassured in these difficult times.

What are your options for celebrating a birthday in the Windy City?

Factors you must consider; and how some popular activities stack up against each other.

banner image courtesy of AD_Images from Pixabay

This pandemic has been so disruptive, it’s expected to divide our lives into pre-pandemic and post-pandemic. Here are 4 escape game themes for the post-pandemic era.

Just how much does reel life reflect real life?

banner image courtesy of Engin_Akyurt from Pixabay

And the feeling would only get worse as time dragged on…

banner image courtesy of OrnaW from Pixabay

This is a crisis unlike any other we’ve ever faced. We may have to bid adieu to some of the things we’ve grown to love.

banner image courtesy of Ri_Ya from Pixabay

From how we work to how we relax, here are 4 changes we can expect in our lives, post-covid19.

banner image courtesy of tommyvideo on Pixabay

What do you think his first name is? Are you sure it’s David?

Suitable for small groups. Fun for the whole family. Keep reading till you get to the bonus game!

banner image courtesy of 944010 from Pixabay

Chicago’s premier escape room reveals how you can build an obstacle course at home for your kids.

The coronavirus situation has gotten a lot more serious than most people expected at some point or another, and it has become apparent that it is in all of our best interest to spend some time in self-isolation to help put a stop to the spread of this nasty disease.

banner image courtesy of Mylene2401 on Pixabay

March is Women’s History Month, a time that we set aside to celebrate women’s contributions and achievements in all spheres of society. There are so many amazing women we would love to acknowledge that the list is simply too long to count, so we decided to recognize a few special ones through the lens of our themed rooms. Accordingly, we wish to honor some extraordinary women who have left their mark throughout history and offer you a different type of list that you may not find anywhere else. These women come from very different walks of life, and some even found themselves on the wrong side of the law, but their incredible feats remain worthy of awe to this very day. 

From places to stay at, through museums you can check out, to other activities you can check out, here is a local guide to things to do in Chicago walking near the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo.

Here’s one way to beat the Chicago chill this weekend...one that’ll take you about 5 minutes to organize.

banner image courtesy of TheDigitalArtist from Pixabay

Fox in a Box - Chicago takes a look at the top 10 Leroy Jethro Gibbs’ rules that escape room fans will truly appreciate.

banner image courtesy of blende12 from Pixabay

Here’s the Fox in a Box Chicago guide to ushering in the new year...and new decade

banner image courtesy of Clockedindk from Pixabay

From just a handful even five years ago, escape rooms in the United States have grown in number, in diversity and in geographical reach. A CBS Sunday Morning team tried out a few escape rooms and they couldn’t get enough of the experience!