Room Escape Games – G.U.E.S.S. HQ Review

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Hey all,

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Last Wednesday, I went with my co-workers to G.U.E.S.S. HQ. I was excited to be spending some off-work time with my colleagues, but not so excited about another escape the room, live-action game. I was pleasantly surprised at how well done this one was! There’s a lot more tech, room (as in space for you to play in), and creative puzzles to beat compared to other ones! This was because (as an employee explained to us) the CEO behind G.U.E.S.S HQ was a past waterslide amusement park designer. He then tried out other escape the room games, and found them to be lacking. He came up with the idea to hire tech, video game, and set designers to create a game that he thought to be better.

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Located off Gastown, G.U.E.S.S. stands for the Gastown Underground Secret Society Headquarters. Even before actually starting the game, you get immersed. Your email came with a secret password, and they won’t buzz you into the premises without it. After we gave our password, they briefed us through our task to come, and made us sign some waivers.

We chose to do The Heist, one of the two missions available for a G.U.E.S.S. agent. Our goal was to break into a vault, and along the way you’ve really got to work together with your team to manoeuvre your way out successfully. Sadly, we didn’t make it all the way, but we were close.


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What was the interior like? It was easily five times as big as the usual escape the room games in Richmond. They also feature a lot of tech, like laser tripwires. You know in films when you’re like “how did they not see that laser beam?? It was so obvious.” It turns out laser beams are actually really hard to spot. We learned that the hard way. We did purchase a “detecting spray” to help us through, which was basically compressed air and water that can momentarily reveal the red lines that are not usually visible to the naked eye. But even then, it was hard to detect all the lasers.

There were also mechanized keypads all around the rooms, as well as motion sensors. Not going to give anything else away, but it was a pretty cool experience. The whole game lasted about 45 mins, with 15 mins on top of that for briefing and intro. They have small lockers to put away your phones and electronics, but it’s not big, so keep that in mind when you go there.

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One really neat thing about G.U.E.S.S is that once in a while, you can win $1000 if you make the top score after finishing their rooms against other competitors. That’s something that really gets the competition and stakes going! One downside is that G.U.E.S.S. is more expensive than the usual escape the room games. For example, the more popular ones in Richmond are going for about $120 to $142/6 people, whereas ours was about $189/6 people. We bought an online deal, which lowered it to $79 though, so keep your eyes peeled.

I remember when I first when to an live escape the room game at EXIT Canada. Man things have changed.

– Karen

Maker Faire Vancouver 2015 at the PNE Forum

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Hello all,

Last Sunday I was at the Vancouver Mini Maker Faire! It was the first time I had been to a Maker Faire, despite it having been ran in Vancouver for quite a while now (the last five years!). For the fourth time, it was held at the PNE Forum.

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I was actually there on behalf of Pinshape, the startup that I’m currently working at. It was a great experience and I got to check out budding tech and inventions! I also talked to lots of people who were interested in 3D printing— which is what Pinshape is associated with. Although we don’t sell 3D printers, nor do we print out models for people, we’re a community marketplace for 3D designers and makers! There were lots of 3D printer companies there, and 3D604 was also there with great makers showing off their printed stuff, but we were the only 3D marketplace there 🙂

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I met lots of interesting people, mostly through those who approached the booth to talk to us. I was surprised to learn that quite a number of people own 3D printers, and that they varied vastly in age. Some other startups talked to us, I walked over to the 3D604 peeps to meet some of our community’s designers (John Biehler, Dan Steele, amongst others)— it was basically a day with lots of talking.

Around the faire, crazy stuff was happening. It wan’t the biggest of faires, but there was plenty to look at. Classes were going on (learn to solder, build your own motorized race car, etc.), you could buy neat stuff from stalls, and look at new inventions.

A brother and sister duo came up to our booth, and I had great conversations with them. They were unbelievably talented. Don’t trust me? Google them up: Jessi and Joshua Langager.

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I ended up visiting them at their booth too, where their recent creation was displayed. They had made a lego NXT robot, and demonstrated how it was programmed so that it did all sorts of fun things! They were probably my favourite people at the faire.

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At the Vancouver Maker Faire, there was also an outdoor area where more makers displayed their arts, and you could also grab some food at the food trucks! I ate a whole pizza because I was exhausted.

Hoping I get to go again next year! Have you ever been? If not, pen it down in your calendars for next year! Especially if you have kids. There’s so much learning going on, and I know for some (like my boyfriend), it was the Maker Faire that inspired them further on down the road 🙂

– Karen

Farmers Market in Vancouver: local and fresh!

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Hey guys,

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On sunday morning we went to the Farmers Market near Nat Bailey Stadium!

It’s been a while since I’ve been to a Vancouver Farmers Market. It used to be so easy since I worked in Yaletown, and every Thursday meant I’d get to browse local goodies! Luckily (for us anyway), the Kitsilano Farmers Market is temporarily moved to Nat Bailey and it’s a lot closer for us.

We had our lunch there, getting to choose from one of the food trucks (there were about five surrounding the entrance to the market). Schnitzel! They were out of pork, so we got the chicken one instead.

IMG_0907There were lots of great booths selling fresh, organic, local produce! Lots of samples (cheese, veggies, even weiners!) too!

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Then there were some more unique shops selling…magic spells? Very interesting, and their potions smelled lovely.

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We had brought my boyfriend’s dog along, so there was a lot of stopping and sniffing going on. But our doggie only likes humans for the most part… other dogs are kinda meh to him.

It wasn’t a particularly sunny day, cloudy actually, but it was so warm that I actually wanted to sweat if not under shade. You know? That muggy kind of heat?

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We had a nice pop! It was my first one, but it was very authentic in ingredients! We got raspberry rhubarb. And perfect to cool us down.

I’m glad there’s so many farmers markets around Vancouver. They also have different dates so that if you have work, you can choose to go to a weekend one instead! Eat local, eat fresh 🙂

– Karen

The International Summer Night Market 2015

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Hey all, This is more of a comparison post seeing what the International Summer Richmond Night Market is like compared to the Richmond Night Market at Bridgeport. I went to the Bridgeport one last week, and this week, the Summer one! IMG_0891 I started saturday with the Whitecaps game against Real Salt Lake yesterday! It was great being back in BC Place to cheer on our team— it was my first game of the season in which I actually went to the stadium. The other games, I had watched on TV. I really missed the atmosphere and it was definitely a lot more nail-biting watching it live!

Whitecaps selfies. Erik Hurtado was signing!

Whitecaps selfies. Erik Hurtado was signing!

Afterwards for dinner, we decided we’d go to the night market. I refused to pay another $2.75 to go to the Richmond Night Market near Bridgeport so we went to the International Summer Night Market. It wasn’t a big hassle, especially as my friend W. drove. How does it rate compared to the Bridgeport one?

Less crowded food stall area

Less crowded food stall area

There was definitely less people in general, which also probably led to there being less stalls— both eating ones and shopping ones. However, the lines are a lot shorter, and you get food faster. There is a smaller range in the variety of food: for example, the Bridgeport one had feverish stalls (more?) that sold solely beverages. In the Summer Night Market, there was more like two? One and a half. They only had one stall that specialized in bubble tea. They did have three that made hurricane potatoes though. IMG_0881 In general, prices were slightly cheaper, especially if you took the time to look around. My boyfriend and I each had a plate of Takoyaki. It was $3 for 4 pieces. There was another stall that sold it for $5 for 6 pieces or something (and that stall had more variety. You could have something other than just octopus), but we just wanted to fulfill our takoyaki cravings. At the Bridgeport one, the cheapest takoyakis we could find were about $5.50 for 6 pieces. Drinks in general were also cheaper, and honestly, I’d say you’d be saving if you ate at the Summer Night Market. You just have to be willing to sacrifice a bit of choice. IMG_0888 A quick sec to give a shoutout to Mr and Mrs Poppins! Such a cute couple, and we bought a bag of their seaweed furikake popcorn and walked around munching on it for the rest of the night. $2! And very interesting flavours. I’d highly suggest you go by since they have samples of their flavours for you to try! IMG_0876 The stalls were honestly not very interesting. But then again, I don’t love the stalls at the Bridgeport one either. If you wanted your cell phone cases, socks, and jewellery stalls, the Summer one also has them. Just less. But they’ve got less quirky stalls, making it a little less entertaining. IMG_0890 We ended up eating our food while watching people perform on stage. And then there was a competition for the people in the crowd to go up and do a series of challenges. One of our friends went up and automatically got free Krispy Kreme donuts! Anyhow, I still think the Summer Night Market is a great place to spend a night and just have street food and look at stalls. You’ll probably be done making a lap around it faster than the Bridgeport one, but hey, it’s free entry! Plus, less crowded 🙂

– Karen
Panda Market Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Richmond Night Market 2015

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Hey all,

It’s summer, so the obligatory visit to the Richmond Night Market has happened.

How did it fare compared to the other years? A huge turn off is the entrance fee. I remember when they first opened and it was what? $1? $1.50? This year’s entrance fee is $2.75.

But as always, they still had great food (that’ll cost you a small fortune):

Is it worth the $2.75 entrance fee? Here’s the thing: I used to be down to go to the night market whenever. Different group of friends would visit, and I’d be fine tagging along. A $1 entrance fee isn’t too bad, and even then I had to get used to paying to go inside a place where I’d be paying again for food and other merchandise. But now it’s almost $3. Definitely, I’m cool with going once and getting my night market experience. I’ll crave the food again, but I can get most of it in Aberdeen/the Richmond are, just without the atmosphere. But nonetheless, that’s why I said I’d go once.

When I went, it was super busy as always.

The food alley is always the busiest!

The food alley is always the busiest!

This year’s theme was pirates, so there were plenty of photo ops with pirate LolliDuck, including a giant pirate ship.

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And if you wanted, you can sit on the Rotato Throne. (Not sure if I thought it was funny or if I was just cringing when I saw it.)

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Anyway, hope your visit to the night market goes well! And don’t forget that if you want the night market experience but don’t want to pay for admission, there’s always the International Richmond Night Market. They’re a little more out of the way, but there’s a free shuttle that you can take from Bridgeport as well. Or if you wanted to drive, it’s free parking! Here’s a deal: if you read this blog post and you go to the paid night market, you have to visit the free one at some point this summer as well. Balance out the business so there’s competition, you know? Competition is always better for the consumer 🙂

– Karen

Richmond Night Market Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato