As moms, we can get so caught up in the must-dos for our kids we sometimes need a reminder to play together. Doing so allows you to appreciate each other in new and delightful ways. Consider these ways to bond as family:
Outdoor games and sports: Get out there and move! You could play catch, tag or even start a friendly family soccer or basketball game. Playing games or sports outside is a great way to exercise and have a blast together.
Board games and puzzles: Who doesn’t love a good board game or puzzle? They’re more than just fun: they get your brains working. You could play Scrabble, chess or a cooperative game like Forbidden Island. Or, you could work on a jigsaw puzzle or Sudoku together. It’s all about having a good time and engaging with each other.
Creative activities: Get your creative juices flowing! Crafts, baking or music making are enjoyable ways to express yourselves.
Many moms say they just don’t have the energy to organize family gaming, which is where we come in. At Conundrum House, we provide the space in unique surroundings with all the materials you need for tabletop gaming, puzzles, Live-Action Role-Playing, mysteries, manipulative puzzles, and so much more. You don’t have to worry about set-up or finding missing pieces.
Everything you need is provided for you, so the entire family gets to enjoy the fun.
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Brought to you by:
Adrienne Fritze, Founder & owner
In downtown Corvallis at 460 SW Madison Ave. Ste 12
Visit us online at conundrum.house | 541-224-8114
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At our first Afternoon Tea event, the editor of the local papers (Corvallis Gazette-Times/Albany Democrat-Herald) was so intrigued she sent a photographer to cover our event! The next day these beautiful photos (by Jess Hume-Pantosso, Mid-Valley Media) were posted under "TOP STORY" and "EDITOR'S PICK."
What a grand way to start off our newest events! With our Afternoon Teas, we encourage costumes, but they are not required. Chef Talus of Whimsy Supper Club served tea cakes and scones. We enjoyed all our guests, and were excited to learn YouTuber Shaina Krevat was there, bringing her enthusiasm for High Teas.
Adrienne, after teaching how to read tarot cards, surprised the guests with a skill she learned from her Viking great-grandmother, Madame Andersen, reading their fortunes through tea leaves.
While we do not expect press coverage for future Afternoon Teas, we do hope you join us in experiencing the wonderful food, games and friends! (Check out our Events page for future dates https://conundrum.house/pages/conundrum-house-events-1)
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Published: Jul. 23, 2023, 1:21 p.m.
By Angie Diaz | Parkrose High School & Sofia D’Uva | Riverdale High School
(See the original article here: https://www.oregonlive.com/hsji/2023/07/corvallis-conundrum-house-solves-the-mystery-of-making-friends-through-murder.html)
For Adrienne Fritze and Mark van der Pol, the couple who murders together, stays together.
They try to keep their murders to once a month or so, as hosts of murder mystery dinners and events at their small game business, Conundrum House.
Conundrum House also offers a popular board and role-playing game rental service, and a space to play on-site.
But what Fritze and van der Pol really seek to provide is a sense of community in Corvallis that supports players and game makers through in-person gaming.
Fritze got into role-playing games in her 20s and wrote her first murder mystery 38 years ago. A version of it is still played monthly in their store.
It began as a “bookcase game,” or one that can be played at home by just pulling it off the shelf. In bookcase games, Fritze said, you’re controlling the game space. She transformed it, with the help of van der Pol, into a live-action role playing game, or LARP, so the player could physically be in the game space.
She and van der Pol want players to feel like they’re stepping into another world at Conundrum House.Beginners can take a spin in the detective room, complete with fake files, a corkboard for pinning suspect and victim photos, an old-timey typewriter and black-and-white photos. The goal is to take the player back in time and help them embody a street-hardened detective.
“I love the way play connects people,” Fritze said. “One of the reasons we wanted to do the game room was to allow families to reconnect.”
Players who buy tickets for the dinner experience “End of Thyme” meet Fritze as a transformed woman. She embodies her character “Rosemary N. Thyme” and welcomes players into a room filled with old furniture, mood lighting and tea leaves for reading.
The ticket holder gets to play as a character, too.”My philosophy is that play is super important,” said van der Pol. “Play is anything in which you’re engaged in something that’s not routine for you. You need your imagination, you need discovery.”
That is a common motivation for game makers. Many also see games as a way to form new relationships.
Chris Scaffidi, a Corvallis-based game designer and publisher, is passionate about helping people make friends through games.
“It’s hard to make friends, and it gets even harder once you’re an adult,” Scaffidi said. “And games are absolutely one of the best ways to make and keep friendships.”
In 2020, Scaffidi started Fervent Workshop, where he creates and publishes his own games like the card-driven “Gnomadic Gardeners,” which is carried at Conundrum House.
He is so passionate about people using his games to forge friendships, he wrote a guide about it.”The Master Plan for Making Friends,” a blog post on his website, details how in-person game playing can help forge friendships.Scaffidi advises players not to begin their role-playing adventure on Amazon. He said players have a better chance of understanding the games and enjoying them by going to a local game store and talking to an enthusiast, like Fritze or van der Pol.
First-time players often feel nervous about stepping into the world of live-action role playing. Even someone as experienced as Fritze finds it difficult to put herself out there sometimes.
But she takes comfort in knowing there’s no such thing as a perfect player, because in LARPing, players embody characters who are imperfect, too.
“We want people to gain a safe space to play,” said van der Pol. “The experience of play is a natural part of life.”
--Angie Diaz, Parkrose High School
--Sofia D’Uva, Riverdale High School
This story was produced by student reporters as part of the High School Journalism Institute, an annual collaboration among The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon State University and other Oregon media organizations. For more information or to support the program, go to oregonlive.com/hsji.
]]>Ladies and gents, hold on to your fedoras and prepare for a twisty tale. Conundrum House, the riddle-ridden establishment that had folks scratching their heads and grinning like Cheshire cats, has nabbed the coveted title of "Best of the Valley 2023" from none other than the esteemed Willamette Living Magazine. Cue the jazz music, and let the celebrations begin!
When you step foot inside Conundrum House, it's like entering a parallel universe where mysteries reign supreme and intrigue dances in the air. Picture this: rooms filled with people playing their favorite tabletop games, vintage decor that's straight out of a detective novel, and the faint scent of coffee mingling with the sweet aroma of adventure. It's a place where your gray matter gets a workout, and you're transported to a land where brainteasers reign supreme.
This tale of triumph was a rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than a con artist's alibi. The masterminds behind Conundrum House, the quirky pair of puzzle and mystery enthusiasts Adrienne and Mark, pull out all the stops to create immersive experiences that are more mind-boggling than a magician's disappearing act. Late nights spent huddled around tables, armed with notepads and cups of joe, crafting conundrums that would have even Sherlock Holmes scratching his chin.
But let's not forget the real heroes of this tale—you, our valuable members. Daring souls, fueled by love for all things puzzling, venture into Conundrum House ready to tackle whatever challenges lay in wait. Armed with determination and a sprinkle of whimsy, unraveling riddles, piecing together clues, and emerging with smiles wider than the Cheshire Cat himself. Your enthusiasm and support fuel the fire, propelling Conundrum House to push the limits of mystery.
Word of this secret gem of a game store and library spread like wildfire, whispered in the back alleys and shared over cups of joe in local cafes. The patrons, loyal and quick-witted, rallied together like a secret society, casting their votes for Conundrum House in the shadows of the night. It was a covert operation, filled with a sense of camaraderie and an air of mischief.
When the results were finally revealed, the surprise was like finding a treasure chest. The team gathered as the announcement echoed through the halls like a crescendo of jazz. And there it was, in bold letters: Conundrum House—bestowed with the honor "Best of the Valley 2023."
The cheers that erupted could rival the applause at a sold-out Broadway show. The team, their faces beaming with pride, knew they had hit the jackpot. Their tireless dedication and playful creativity had paid off, and they were over the moon.
But wait dear reader, this isn't the end of the story. No, it's just the beginning of a new chapter—a chapter brimming with even more whimsy and immersive adventures. The Conundrum House team, inspired by their victory, is ready to add more games to challenge the cleverest of minds and sprinkle magic into the lives of their patrons.
So, my fellow adventurers, as the sun sets and the stars twinkle above the Willamette Valley, know that Conundrum House awaits with its expanded rental library, curated retail, and eclectically atmospheric play space- The Saunders Room. Get your thinking caps on, my friends, and let the games begin!
]]>We here at Conundrum House are happy to be a part of this wonderful community.
"Conundrum House is a one-stop club for all things mysterious and adventurous. You can stay and play or take games home with you. Join the membership program and access the extensive rentable collection of tabletop games, including board games (check out the CLUE collection), RPGs, puzzles (some are vintage, with mysteries written by murder mystery authors), and dinner party mysteries in a box. A new feature is their event space, "The Saunders Room," a perfect setting for your next dinner party - featuring the murder of the Great Sage, Rosemary N. Thyme!"
LINK: https://www.visitcorvallis.com/articles/gaming-interactive-entertainment-in-corvallis
Come by and chat with us - we are cooking up a plan to create a Game Store Passport with the other players in town. What do you think?
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Join us as Sponsors for Season Two of Spectres of Benton County Past, a clue hunt and mystery adventure game featuring ghost stories related to historical resources in the county!
Season One was such a success that the Benton County Historic Resources Commission re-engaged Conundrum House to create a second season of Spectres. You can be a part of the exciting expansion with your sponsorship. Your dollars go to the further development of Spectres of Benton County Past, Season Two, including more research and the production of the game materials. Your branding, depending on your level, will be included in posters, postcards, press releases, the website and game materials.
There are five levels of sponsorship - and one lucky sponsor can add to the package the sponsorship of the virtual relaunch of Season One. Levels are Pure Spirits (Platinum Level); Superior Spirits (Gold Level); Wise Spirits (Silver Level); Scholarly Spirits (Copper Level); and Benevolent Spirits (Bronze Level - the select add-on for retro advertising). There is also an option to support the program in much small dollar amounts that work for you and your budget - from $5 to $100. GO HERE to learn more and choose the level that works for you, and your business (if you have one!).
At the top sponsorship level we offer something super special - weaving into this year’s adventure game information on you, or one/more of your ancestors, or your fabulous hobby, or some other juicy morsel that fits your brand and the story.
Besides supporting your favorite conspirators, your sponsorship will:
Interested in learning more? Contact Adrienne (541) 250-2027 for more package details and pricing options. Hurry, the deadline for inclusion is April 25th, 2022.
]]>Join us this May for Season 2 of Spectres of Benton County Past, a clue hunt and mystery adventure game featuring ghost stories related to historical resources in the county!
This free-for-all-ages adventure kicks off May 7th with the mystery starting where Season 1 left off - at the Whiteside Theater. The multi-layered stories of these places are told through historical voices -the spectres who supposedly (in fact or fiction) inhabit the locales- coupled with engaging puzzles. Clue hunters have a week to investigate, in person or virtually, with new episodes and historic locations launched the following Saturdays (5/14, 5/21 and the grand finale where everything comes together, on 5/28).
You, your relatives, housemates, groups, and friends have the week to investigate the resources and find the clues to that week’s mysteries. After solving the mystery, you will know where to start when you receive the next email with new clues.
Participate in three ways:
Season 1
“We are very excited!” says Inga Williams, Community Development at the Benton County Historic Resources Commission (HRC) when discussing the renewed contract to offer Spectres again in 2022. Last year the HRC sponsored the program as part of National Historic Preservation Month.
In the Spectres experience last year, players explored five historic sites -the Benton County Courthouse, the Grange on Greenberry Road, the Van Buren Bridge, the Kidder Hall, and ending at the Whiteside Theater.
Didn’t get a chance to participate last year? Don’t worry, you’ll get the chance - Season one will be relaunched online on April 23rd, the week prior to the annual Oregon Heritage Conference.
The Oregon Heritage Conference
Every year people who are involved in preserving Oregon’s heritage gather together for a three-day event. For 2022, the event was planned to be held in-person in Corvallis, but due to an overabundance of caution, will be held virtually.
At this year’s (now virtual) Conference, Conundrum House co-conspirators Adrienne and Mark, will join Benton County HRC commissioners Inga Williams, Jay Sexton and Nancy Taniguchi on a panel discussing last year’s event in a session called “Magical Mystery History Clue Hunts: Bringing History to Life for Today’s Families & Younger Generations.” Spectres Season 1 is relaunching for this conference, and Season 2 will be promoted to attendees who can attend in person if they are nearby or virtually when they head back home.
Join in, tell your friends!
Mark your calendars for the relaunch of Season 1 and save your Saturdays for the adventure! Click here to sign up: https://spectres.conundrumhouse.com/
]]>Congratulations to Conundrum House for winning the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce “Small Business of the Year” Award at the 74th annual event, Celebrate Corvallis “Maskerade”.
“We love this community” said Adrienne, as she and Mark - co-conspirators of Conundrum House - accepted the award from Simon Date, Corvallis Chamber of Commerce
The ballroom at the beautiful Alumni Center on the Oregon State University’s campus was buzzing with hundreds of people, including the 74 nominees who were competing across 13 categories. Celebrate Corvallis hadn’t been held in two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and everyone was excited to be together on March 18th, 2022 in person again. Mark and Adrienne enjoyed seeing friends and other local business owners during the entertaining evening.
Each year Corvallis citizens, businesses, and organizations do remarkable things that make our community special. The Corvallis Chamber of Commerce pauses to recognize those outstanding accomplishments of our community’s civic volunteers, business leaders, and public-spirited citizens at the annual Celebrate Corvallis gala.
Honorees are nominated by citizens who want to give special recognition to those who have made outstanding achievements in the community. From those nominated, five committees sort through using different criteria for the 13 categories. Winners are then announced at the ceremony.
“We are usually so involved in keeping Conundrum House running, partnering with other businesses or playing in the community, that we don’t have any idea what others think of us. What a great surprise to be honored this way” exclaimed Adrienne, as she showed off the award to the CH team.
Next time you visit, be sure to check out the award displayed on the front desk.
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