By CHRISTIAN MAITRE
Waltham Times Contributing Writer
Escapology opens in Main Street plaza
Escapology is bringing storyline-driven escape room adventures to Watch City.
Located on 1030 Main St., the newly-opened establishment lets groups book themed experiences such as Mansion Murder, Arizona Shootout: Most Wanted and Cyber Heist. Groups have an hour to complete a series of puzzles to escape their room. Designated game masters can give hints from a control room.
For owner Don MacLaren Jr., Waltham offers a couple of top benefits as a business location.
“Part of my deal was to be within 10 miles of Boston, and Waltham fits the molds for that,” Maclaren said. He also cited the local colleges here as a key attraction. “You’ve got Brandeis and Bentley that are right in the backyard here, and that helps with the labor pool.”
Since opening Nov. 1, Escapology has made an effort to connect with the city.
For example, on Nov. 2 it hosted a “Waltham Day” allowing city employees, teachers, council members, first responders and their families to try Escapology for free. “We wanted to showcase our place, which we’re extremely proud of, and we wanted to really give back,” MacLaren said.
And although Escapology’s steampunk-themed lobby wasn’t intentionally included with Waltham in mind, it will certainly be a hit with attendees of the annual Watch City Steampunk festival.
Maria Duffy shares her professional story at Women in Business Luncheon
Some 43 people attended the Waltham Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business Luncheon last Wednesday at the Hilton Garden Inn. The luncheon is part of a five-part series that includes networking and discussion with women business executives, entrepreneurs and politicians.
The Nov. 13 luncheon featured Maria Duffy, director of development at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence and a Waltham Rotary Club member.
“My career path has been unconventional, pivoting from art sales to nonprofit fundraising,” Duffy said. “I am a mission-driven individual, and the opportunity to share how my experience as a survivor of domestic abuse led me to where I am today as director of development at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence was incredibly meaningful. Thank you to the Waltham Chamber for giving me this opportunity to tell my story and spread awareness about domestic abuse and the lifesaving work we do at REACH supporting survivors and building healthy communities for all.”
Local Cuban restaurant cracks Top 50 on Boston Magazine’s Best Restaurants
Gustazo Cuban Kitchen & Bar on Moody Street ranked 43rd on Boston Magazine’s Top 50 Best Restaurants, a list first published in its November 2024 print issue. The magazine praised the Waltham location’s expansive patio, large drink menu and comforting Cuban fare, noting that “no place better captures the lively spirit of the island quite like this anchor of Waltham’s Moody Street restaurant row and its newer Cambridge sibling.”
Emma’s Macarons closes
While Gustazo is bringing accolades to the local restaurant scene, Moody Street recently lost one of its eateries: Emma’s Macarons. The bakery, which had sold macarons and other sweet treats from a storefront at 248 Moody St. since 2022, closed on Sept. 26. In a Facebook post owner Jeane Hoang described the closure as “completely unexpected.”
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