You Shall Not Pass
No Way Box
No Way Box by Peter Hajek
There is simply no way I could keep from writing about this puzzle box, although I very nearly never got the chance, which would have added an existential challenge to what is already a wonderfully challenging piece of experiential art (a lovely term to describe many of the beautifully crafted conundrums that grace these pages). The very limited run, masterfully produced by the team at the Pelikan workshop in Czechoslovakia, sold out in an instant, but luck was on my side when a single person dropped off the list.
find it where there’s no resolve?
The puzzle box is the brainchild of Dr. Peter Hajek, a British psychologist who understands both the secrets to a very good puzzle and the joys of experiencing such items. He is an authority on the puzzle box, having published a number of definitive books on the subject. Peter has also created a few extremely enjoyable boxes over the years, each with its own set of clever misdirections, brilliant mechanisms, and satisfying ahas. His boxes either taunt you with their plaintive provocations, such as “Now What?” and “How?”, or defiantly suggest you don’t stand a chance, as with “No Way”. Of course, there is also “Father William”, who will surely tell you that nothing is impossible, and you’re never too old to do a little magic. Once again, Peter has done just that. He recently shared a bit of the story.
or in outer space?
“The box was a long time in the making. We prototyped some bits during several summers when my family goes to southern Bohemia where the Pelikan crew happens to live. In between, I designed various decorative and puzzle parts and had them made. Jakub Dvorak then made the first rough prototype of the whole box and sent it to me in London. I made some tweaks, sent it back, and the parcel got lost!
courtesy of Peter Hajek
Rather than waiting till the next summer trip, I recruited Peter Knoppers in Holland and we made another prototype out of transparent acrylic. Yes, it provided an opportunity to add some more trickery.
courtesy of Peter Hajek
While Pelikans were trying to make sense of the new model, the lost parcel was returned to me, some 10 months after I sent it off! So the tempo was slow and there were some hiccups, but I was not in a hurry, enjoyed it all, was very pleased when a few puzzle friends I showed the prototype to praised it, and was happy with how the final box turned out.
or no testament?
It was not so easy for Jakub and Pelikans. Given the amount of time the workshop spent on the box, they had to charge a hefty price and were nervous about finding buyers for all 50 copies. But they sold out quickly and so there was a good ending for them as well.”
or a library without Shakespeare?
The box is beautifully rendered in oak, and has a “Q” for queen inlay done by Jason De George and hefty hinges produced by Ivo Splichal, another past Hajek production collaborator. One of the first things you’ll notice is that there are far too many hinges. It’s the first clue you’ll get that there is no way to open this box. Even so, you’ll wonder at what appears to be a lidded top, and two side doors. On the bottom, thanks to Peter’s sense that a puzzle box ought to be self explanatory, and despite his conviction that engraving ought to be avoided, is an explanation. Find six queens and a gear. Right then. Off you go, or it’s off with your head! “The last challenge is the core of the project and the reason this was made. The other puzzles are there to entertain the solvers, and hopefully to lead them to the last bit so they appreciate the sequence and the final surprise.” Like many of Peter’s puzzles, the central idea is what the whole experience is about, and what makes it so unique. The puzzle’s name is not just a fair warning that you will reach a point at which it must be the truth – it is also the exact exclamation you will utter if you can do the impossible.
No A Negroni (Phony Negroni by St Agrestis)
I’m toasting this tremendously mind boggling box that makes you certain there can be no way to open it with a different kind of cocktail trick and a play on words. For the “No Way” box, I thought it might be clever to offer a “No A” cocktail. I’m a big fan of the classic Negroni, a boozy combination of gin, vermouth and Campari. Each component in the drink has distinct flavors and substance which contribute to the whole experience. It is almost inconceivable to imagine a non-alcoholic version of the cocktail that could actually fool you and satisfy a true connoisseur. That would be a really good trick.
are you faking it?
I’ve actually dabbled in this space before, with the “Unlocked Negroni”, a drink that comes pretty close to achieving the goal. It uses a non-alcoholic “spirit” which has been distilled in a process similar to how acoholic spirits are made, but of course without the booze. These free spirited alternatives are very popular and there are many choices, but none that I had tried really captured the depth and flavor of true booze, for better or worse. For the “No A Negroni” I therefore thought I would start with a bottled non-alcoholic Negroni (with the best name ever) produced by Brooklyn distiller St. Agrestis, and modify it with a number of additional non-alcoholic options like a homemade bitter syrup. But after much experimentation, the truth is that their bottled cocktail is perfectly convincing. It’s definitely the best faux Negroni I’ve had, and I’d be a fool to fiddle with it further. There’s just No Way to make it better - cheers!
a regal pair
No A Negroni
1 bottle of chilled St Agrestis Phony Negroni
Pour over ice, garnish, and keep your wits about you!
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