Author: Mike K.

Where’s Our Tricked Out Automobile? – Room: Spy’s Demise – August 6, 2016

~ Mike K. ~ 3 Comments

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you’ve always wanted to be a secret agent.

Avoid if… you can’t tell your right from your left.

THE BASICS

Cville Escape Room: (MOVED TO NEW LOCATION June 1, 2018)

Address: 218 W Main St, 2nd Floor, Charlottesville, VA (click address for Google Map)
New location is: 310 E. Main St., Charlottesville, VA

Contact and Website: 434-566-9499
https://www.cvilleescaperoom.com

The Room – Spy’s Demise: RETIRED

Description (from the company website): Deadly toxins, double agents, and other nefarious elements conspire to eliminate the secret agent players.

Difficulty (1-10): unlisted

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: $25 + tax per person

Identifier: R1

Party Size: Up to 8

Staging Area: They put us in a conference room and came in to give us the briefing.

Metro Access/Parking: There’s a pay-parking lot about 1.5 blocks away and street parking, if you can find it.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Logistics:

Description of the room: Saying the room was cluttered would not be doing it justice. It was full of props and propaganda (propsaganda?), but almost everything was used.

Understanding of the Mission: figure out what happened to our comrade, who the double agent was and complete his mission.

Did We Escape: We did!

Time Remaining: Thinking it was under 10 minutes

Our Suggested Party Size: We had 10 because it was a special event, but we would definitely recommend no more than 8.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Rohan, Steph, Chris, Cecilia, Trish, Brittany, Corey

Team Disturbed Friends (Brittany, Corey, Chris, Jason, Mike, Cecelia, Trish, Stephanie and Rohan) found the plans and celebrated Jason's birthday in style. Photo courtesy of Cville Escape Room's Facebook page.
Team Disturbed Friends (Brittany, Corey, Chris, Jason, Mike, Cecelia, Trish, Stephanie and Rohan) found the plans and celebrated Jason’s birthday in style. Photo courtesy of Cville Escape Room’s Facebook page.

Worth the time and money? Absolutely

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After: It’s downtown Charlottesville right off the main pedestrian walkway, so there are tons of options. We ate dinner at the place below.

  • Fellini’s – good cocktails and beer selection. Food was okay.

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The Joke’s On You – Room: Survive the Joker’s Trap – November 17, 2016

~ Mike K. ~ 3 Comments

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… Whips and chains (particularly chains) excite you..

Avoid if… They don’t and you are afraid of clowns.

THE BASICS

Room Escape DC:

Address: 3949A University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 703-270-0377
http://roomescapedc.com/jokers-trap-room/

The Room – Survive the Joker’s Trap:

Description (from the company website): You and your task force of detectives have spent months chasing the infamous criminal clown known only as Joker. Your investigation has brought you precariously close to capturing this clever crook, and you’ve grown confident: sure that this final chase will land Joker in ‘cuffs and custody. You were right on his tail, and then… It was a trap!

You and your team awake disoriented, in a disturbing basement, chained to chairs. Joker, indulging in the dramatic, has hidden a bomb set to detonate in one hour. The minutes are counting down fast. You and your team will have to rely on collaboration, and your investigative prowess, to free yourselves, disarm the bomb, and escape with your lives.

Harness your courage to decipher this trap… Otherwise, this will be your last blast!

The game begins with you and your team chained to chairs (YES, WE REALLY MEAN IT. IF THIS CONCERNS YOU, CONTACT US) in a creepy basement.

Difficulty (1-10): 3 of 3

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: $27 per person, but use ERG15 to take 15% off your price on games booked between Mondays and Thursdays

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 4-8 people

Staging Area: Lobby includes several tables/benches, sign-in counter, vending machines

Metro Access/Parking: No metro nearby, but plenty of parking.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Logistics:

Description of the room: A dingy and DARK basement with chairs and chains and some deranged clown-themed and graffiti artwork.

Understanding of the Mission: You’re kidnapped by the mysterious Joker and locked up in his basement. You have 60 minutes to free yourself from your chains (literally) and escape before the bomb detonates.

Did We Escape: YES

Time Remaining: about 13 minutes

Our Suggested Party Size: 6-8

Did the room challenge the entire team? Absolutely

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Stephanie, Brittany, Corey, Tara and Eric.

Team Disturbed Friends (Mike, Jason, Stephanie, Brittany, Corey, Tara and Eric) escaped the evil clutches of the Joker! Photo courtesy of Room Escape DC's Facebook page.
Team Disturbed Friends (Mike, Jason, Stephanie, Brittany, Corey, Tara and Eric) escaped the evil clutches of the Joker! Photo courtesy of Room Escape DC’s Facebook page.

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

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It’s Just a Little Cold; Nothing to Worry About – Room: Hospital of the Black Death (a.k.a. The Cure) – December 16, 2016

~ Mike K. ~ 1 Comment

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you love the board game Pandemic or the mobile game Plague Inc., or thought learning about the Black Plague in school was fascinating.

Avoid if… you are a hypochondriac.

THE BASICS

Room Escape DC

Address: 3949A University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 703-865-4178
[email protected]
http://roomescapedc.com/the-black-death

The Room – Hospital of the Black Death (a.k.a. The Cure):

Description (from the company website): You and your team are a group of archeologists searching for a lost, legendary treasure cache from World War II. You explore the most remote areas of Eastern Europe, imagining piles of glittering gold, and trunks full of rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. But it is not treasure you find.

You stumble upon a hospital that is not noted on any of your maps. It is decrepit. It is abandoned. Some members of your team think this lost, peculiar hospital is sure to house the treasure you so desperately seek. So, you enter. And now, you cannot get out.

You find this hospital was deserted because it was the site of a deadly virus outbreak. You and your group have all been exposed to the infamous pandemic: the Black Death. Even if you escape, you will not survive.

It is up to you and your team to devise a cure to save yourselves from this deadly pathogen. Quick: your skin is growing black, and darkness is setting in. You will have to work together to uncover the mysteries of this forsaken place. Your fate is in your hands.

Difficulty (1-10): 3 of 3

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: $27 + tax per person, but use ERG15 to take 15% off your price on games booked between Mondays and Thursdays

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 2-8 people

Staging Area: Decently sized lobby with plenty of seating. Two separate restrooms located off the main lobby.

Metro Access/Parking: Parking garage around the corner, but no metro.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Logistics:

Description of the room: The room that you enter looks like a a room in an old insane asylum. Medical stuff is strewn around and you get an uneasy feeling that you’re about to be locked in this room that has some weird juju going on.

Understanding of the Mission: Find out the cure to the plague and make the cure before it kills you!

Did We Escape: Yes, and we were the first to escape from this room (it opened that night)!

Time Remaining: 2:22… close, but we did it.

Our Suggested Party Size: We had 7

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes, and we were able to work on clues independently and help out when others got stuck.

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Katheryn, Mark, Stephanie and Tara.

Team Disturbed Friends (Katheryn, Mark, Stephanie, Mike; Tara, Jason) found the antidote and prevented the outbreak of the plague (and didn't die themselves!). Photo courtesy of Room Escape DC's Facebook page.
Team Disturbed Friends (Katheryn, Mark, Stephanie, Mike; Tara, Jason) found the antidote and prevented the outbreak of the plague (and didn’t die themselves!). Photo courtesy of Room Escape DC’s Facebook page.

Worth the time and money? Yes, and we actually got a discount for booking the entire room because we did two rooms in the same night (they also sometimes offer discounts to try out the new rooms on the opening nights/weekends).

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

  • The Green Turtle – sports bar w/ standard bar food. Karaoke was going on the night we stopped in.
  • The Wine House – stop in for a glass of wine and dessert.

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What the hell is this? – Read This First!

~ Mike K. ~ 2 Comments

Escape Room Reviewers and Consultants

Quick navigation tips and instructions:

  • Understand our grading scale. We’ve established what we think is a pretty comprehensive rubric, so you should check out how we score the different sections and how the overall total score relates to a recommendation.
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  • Use the search feature on the right to search keywords/terms/phrases for the entire site.
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POEsers Need Not Apply – Room: Poe-ranormal Activity – April 30, 2016

~ Mike K.

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you are a literature buff in love with the macabre.

Avoid if… you have separation anxiety… or are afraid of the beating of the Telltale Heart.

THE BASICS

Escape Room Live Alexandria:

Address: 814 King Street, Floor 2, Alexandria, VA 22314 (click the address for a Google Map)

Contact and Website: 800-616-4880
http://www.escaperoomlive.com

The Room – POE-Ranormal Activity:

Description (from the company website): You are a team of paranormal investigators from Discovery Channel’s ‘Destination America’ and have been given permission to enter Poe’s old chambers in search of a historian who disappeared several years ago in search of a fabled ‘Lost Manuscript’!

Difficulty (1-10): 8/10

Time Limit: 45 minutes

Cost: $28 + tax per person but use ERGUYS15 when booking to save 15% off per ticket.

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 8-10

Staging Area: Escape Room Live Alexandria has a large, open space complete with cow skin rugs and couches with ample seating located in the middle of all the rooms, so there is plenty of space to hang out if you get there early. The requisite restrooms are in the back and the decor includes extremely wacky artwork.

Metro Access/Parking: King Street metro is a 0.7 mile walk (or take the free King Street Trolley to Columbus Street); street/garage parking.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Logistics:

Description: This one started off with a twist (which, of course, I will not spoil). The room was well-themed with Poe stuff, which was actually integrated into the puzzles.

Did We Escape: Yes, indeed we did.

Time Remaining: Just over 12 minutes.

Our Suggested Party Size: 6-8 (preferably an even number here)

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Aaron, Shanell, Jess, Dalia, Chris and JoAnne.

Team Disturbed Friends (Aaron, Mike, Shanell, Jess, Dalia, Chris, JoAnne and Jason) found the historian and the lost manuscript! Photo courtesy of Escape Room Live Alexandria's Facebook page.
Team Disturbed Friends (Aaron, Mike, Shanell, Jess, Dalia, Chris, JoAnne and Jason) found the historian and the lost manuscript! Photo courtesy of Escape Room Live Alexandria’s Facebook page.

Worth the time and money? Yup

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After: It’s Old Town, but we recommend:

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Venture through the Looking Glass – Room: Adventures in Wonderland – February 12, 2017

~ Mike K. ~ 3 Comments

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you’ve always wanted to have tea with the Mad Hatter.

Avoid if… you have problems seeing in the dark.

THE BASICS

EscapeRoom Woodbridge:

Address: 12668 Darby Brook Ct., Woodbridge, VA 22912 (click address for a Google Map)

Contact and Website: 703-910-6015
https://www.escaperoomwoodbridgeva.com/

The Room – Adventures in Wonderland: RETIRED

Description (from company website): The Red Queen has taken the Mad Hatter and wants you to solve an age-old riddle before it’s “OFF WITH HIS HEAD!”

Difficulty (1-10): no rating given

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: $28 per person. – Use ERGUYS when booking to get either a percentage or set $$ amount off per ticket (whatever promotion is running)

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 6 people max.

NOTE: we were told that this room is being retired in March 2017 and being replaced by a DaVinci-themed room.

Staging Area: Simple sitting area with couches. Restrooms are located in the back of the building past the Escape Rooms.

Metro Access/Parking: no metro access. This company is located in a shopping center and has ample parking. Watch traffic delays on I-95 and leave ample time to get there.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Logistics:

Description: The Mad Hatter has been kidnapped and the sadistic Red Queen has issued you a challenge to answer a riddle within 60 minutes, or she’ll lop off the guy’s head… and maybe yours as well (muah-ha-ha).

Understanding of the Mission: Solve the clues that relate to Wonderland and figure out the answer to the riddle.

Did We Escape: Oh, yeah.

Time Remaining: 7:27

Our Suggested Party Size: No more than 6 (in fact, 5 was perfect). The room itself isn’t that large and we couldn’t imagine having 10 people in there.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes, there seemed to be enough for the 5 of us to work on without stepping all over each other (despite the small room).

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Eric, Alphonso and Katheryn

Another successful escape for team Disturbed Friends. At the EscapeRoom Woodbridge "Adventures in Wonderland" escape room. Photo courtesy of EscapeRoom Woodbridge's Facebook page.
Another successful escape for team Disturbed Friends. At the EscapeRoom Woodbridge “Adventures in Wonderland” escape room. Photo courtesy of EscapeRoom Woodbridge’s Facebook page.

Worth the time and money? Yes, it definitely was. We used a Groupon for this room so we didn’t pay full price, but the room is good enough to book without the discount and we recommend you get in there fast before the room changes theme (which we were told is soon!).

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

  • Fair Winds Brewing Company – We decided to hit up this place (about 10 minutes north of the Escape Room) and have a beer or two. (Well, some of us started with tasting flights THEN got beers.)

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Give Me a Gun and Get Out of My Way! – Room: 13 Hours – January 29, 2016

~ Mike K. ~ 1 Comment

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you have a thing for people in uniform.

Avoid if… you aren’t a member of the NRA.

THE BASICS

Escape Room Live Glover Park: – LOCATION CLOSED

Address: 2300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suites G-102, Washington, DC 20007
(Entrance is DOWN the stairs off of Hall Place NW) (click address for a Google Map)

Contact and Website: 800-616-4880
http://www.escaperoomlive.com
[email protected]

The Room – 13 Hours (temporarily replaced Double Crossed):

Description (from the company website): This room was a temporary room associated with the 13 Hours movie. As such, the description is no longer available on the site, but our military team was dropped behind enemy lines to complete a mission and find the target of an upcoming attack, radio the coordinates to base and then request an evacuation.

Difficulty (1-10): unlisted

Time Limit: 45 minutes

Cost: $28 + tax per person but use ERGUYS15 when booking to save 15% off per ticket.

Identifier: T1

Party Size: Up to 8

Staging Area: The lobby to this location was downstairs in what I believe is the basement level of the building. There were couches and some games to keep you busy.

Metro Access/Parking: Tenleytown and then the bus down Wisconsin Avenue, or Dupont Circle and the bus up Massachusetts are your best bets. There’s no metro right by, so you’ll have to drive and find a place to park. Probably better to Uber/Lyft.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Logistics:

Description of the room: The room itself was small but packed with goodies: Bookcases, maps, cigars.

Understanding of the Mission: We had to find the target for the attacks and then radio in the coordinates and request an evac.

Did We Escape: Yes

Time Remaining: 6:43

Our Suggested Party Size: Doesn’t matter anymore as this room has been replaced, but 6 people worked well.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Dennis, Dennis’ wife, Chris and Dalia.

We completed the mission! Members of the elite squad were Dennis, Jason, Dennis' wife, Chris, Mike and Dalia. Photo courtesy of Escape Room Live Glover Park's Facebook page.
We completed the mission! Members of the elite squad were Dennis, Jason, Dennis’ wife, Chris, Mike and Dalia. Photo courtesy of Escape Room Live Glover Park’s Facebook page.

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

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Damn, It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta – Room: Cosa Nostra – March 19, 2016

~ Mike K. ~ 4 Comments

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you were a bootlegger (or a gangster) in a previous life.

Avoid if… guns make you nervous or you are a prohibitionist.

THE BASICS

Insomnia Escape DC:

Address: 2300 Wisconsin Ave NW, #200B, Washington, DC 20007 (click address for a Google Map)

Contact and Website: 202-600-0419
https://insomniaescaperoomdc.com/cosa-nostra

The Room – Cosa Nostra:

Description (from the company website): Tucked away in a remote alleyway, behind an unmarked door and camouflaged with a fancy gallery space, there is an urban heaven for booze aficionados. This is the year 1933, under mysterious circumstances, you are transferred to a secret speakeasy, back in the waning days of Prohibition.

Difficulty (1-10): 6/10

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: $29/per person

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 2-7

Staging Area: The staging area was basically a lobby with a couch, coat closet, and a water cooler.

Metro Access/Parking: The nearest Metro stop is either Tenleytown or Woodley Park metro (and then a bus), so it’s likely easier to drive/cab/Lyft in. There is street parking and one or two garages nearby.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Logistics:

Description: Set in a saloon, you walk into the bar. There’s a poker table with several hands showing and a full pot on the table. The empty booze bottles on the shelf, and a pistol. Well decorated and themed, but it did feel a little crammed at first.

Understanding of the Mission: pretty straightforward… We needed to figure out who was killed and where they stashed the goods.

Did We Escape: Indeed we did.

Time Remaining: Just over 5 minutes.

Our Suggested Party Size: We had 7, so the recommended party size of 2-7 was pretty spot on.

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes, there was plenty for people to work on as smaller teams.

Members of the team (other than the ERG): Stephanie, Chris, Jess and Tom.

Team Disturbed Friends (Jason, Stephanie, Mike, Chris and Jess) conquered Cosa Rostra at Insomnia Escape DC. Photo courtesy of Insomnia Escape DC's Facebook page.
Team Disturbed Friends (Jason, Stephanie, Mike, Chris and Jess) conquered Cosa Nostra at Insomnia Escape DC. Photo courtesy of Insomnia Escape DC’s Facebook page.

Worth the time and money? This location proves the old adage “never judge a book by its cover” since the building and office space is a little unassuming, but the room was really well done. We would do it again if we had to do it all over.

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

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No S&*t, Sherlock! – Room: Sherlock Holmes: A Matter of Time – December 20, 2015

~ Mike K. ~ 4 Comments

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you enjoy anything and everything Sherlock.

Avoid if… you don’t like to be touched.

THE BASICS

Escape Room Live Alexandria:

Address: 814 King Street, Floor 2, Alexandria, VA 22314 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 800-616-4880
http://www.escaperoomlive.com
[email protected]

The Room – Sherlock Holmes: A Matter of Time:

Description (from the company website):  Sherlock has summoned you to his study to assist on a case he has almost finished. You arrive to find him missing yet know he was recently there… the scotch glasses still have ice in them. Can you discover where he is in time?

Difficulty (1-10): 7/10

Time Limit: 45 minutes

Cost: $28 + tax per person but use ERGUYS15 when booking to save 15% off per ticket.

Identifier: R1 – Original Room

Party Size: 8-10

Staging Area: Escape Room Live Alexandria has a large, open space complete with cow skin rugs and couches with ample seating located in the middle of all the rooms, so there is plenty of space to hang out if you get there early. The requisite restrooms are in the back and the decor includes extremely wacky artwork.

Metro Access/Parking: King Street metro w/ a .7 mile walk (or take the free King Street Trolley to Columbus Street); street/garage parking.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Logistics:

Description: A recreation of Sherlock’s office, including a desk, fireplace, and bookcase. The decor was all appropriate for the time period.

Understanding of the Mission: Find Sherlock Holmes!

Did We Escape: yes

Time Remaining: Around 10 minutes

Our Suggested Party Size: 6-8

Did the room challenge the entire team? hell yeah. There was a lot to do and people could work independently until everything started coming together at the end, and it was probably more challenging due to the pre-room celebrations.

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Marie, Dave, Ryan, Jared, Becky, and the person in the white beard.

Escape Room Live: Sherlock Holmes - A Matter of Time. Photo courtesy of Escape Room Live Alexandria's Facebook page.
Escape Room Live: Sherlock Holmes – A Matter of Time. Photo courtesy of Escape Room Live Alexandria’s Facebook page.

Worth the time and money? Indubitably

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After: It’s Old Town, but we recommend:

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Don’t Back Us into a Corner! – Room: Escape the Oval Office – November 1, 2015

~ Mike K. ~ 1 Comment

ESCAPE ROOM REVIEW – THE QUICK AND DIRTY

Play if… you’ve always wanted to be a Secret Service agent.

Avoid if… history just ain’t your thing.

THE BASICS

The Escape Lounge on H Street:

Address: 1322B H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 (click address for Google Map)

Contact and Website: 202-399-0900
http://escapetheroom.today

The Room – Escape the Oval Office:

Description (from the company website): Escape the Oval Office is an escape room game where you are a team of White House correspondents for the National News Agency and you just received an anonymous tip about a brewing “scandal” in the White House. Now you and your colleagues must sneak into the Oval Office to uncover the details so that you can get your story to print in 60 minutes.

Difficulty (1-10): 6/10

Time Limit: 60 minutes

Cost: “From $15”

Identifier: R1

Party Size: 4-10

Staging Area: The room is in a townhouse on the second floor, so it’s basically a living room. It is spacious with a lot of seating.

Metro Access/Parking: Union Station and Galludet Metro stops are both a 1.2 mile walk away from this location, or search for street parking.

OUR EXPERIENCE

Logistics:

Description of the room: It’s a room that is decorated to mimic the Oval Office. Desk, 2 couches, table.

Understanding of the Mission: You are part of the White House press crew and get a tip that there is a scandal being covered up. Does it go all the way to the top? You need to infiltrate the Oval Office, find proof of the scandal, and escape before Secret Service catches you.

Did We Escape: Yes

Time Remaining: 12:45

Our Suggested Party Size: 6-8

Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes

Members of our team (other than the ERG): Steph, Gina, Shanell, Aaron, Jennifer and two random guys.

Our first room! The team (Jason, Mike, Steph, Gina, Shanell, Jennifer and Aaron) escaped the Oval Office!
Our first room! The team (Jason, Mike, Steph, Gina, Shanell, Jennifer and Aaron) escaped the Oval Office!

Worth the time and money? Yes

Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:

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