The comments section was recently lit up with the theme of Highgarden, a “botanical experiment” that uses space at Greca, Tom Galis’ Greek restaurant on Washington and Watts.
The comments began with complaints attached to this post about the closing of American Whiskey. Readers said the restaurant – which Galis opened in 2018 and then expanded during Covid, when he closed The Greek – had transformed into a nightclub with “loud music until late at night, people gathering and smoking weed on the sidewalk, and disgusting trash littered everywhere. .”
Another reader stopped by Tuesday at 8 p.m. and said the space “was filled with people smoking bongs and other marijuana paraphernalia.” This definitely doesn’t seem to be Greca anymore. Very strange.”
I’ve been there the last two nights and haven’t seen much action – but it was later, around 11 p.m., and everything was quiet (the restaurant was almost empty) except for one guy, oddly enough, brandishing a lighter on the sidewalk while sitting on a Citibike. (The scene was much louder and livelier at Greenwich Street Tavern.)
But there is no doubt that High garden now does business in the space – the sign is on the door and their registration on Tock lists The Greek as a “partner” and most events are listed at 452 Washington. I guess they move the location on occasion, although it seems like for now Greca is their main location.
They describe themselves as offering “a botanical experience for people interested in a high-end lifestyle.” (Get it?) “Hidden in the city, this oasis offers only the best things for the elevated connoisseur. Join us for live performances, an organic gourmet menu, infused mixology, a Stündenglass bar, exclusive products and much more! » (For the uninitiated (me), a Stündenglass is a gravity-induced smoke diffusion system with interchangeable tips.)
As we should all understand by now, possessing and smoking or vaping up to 3 ounces of cannabis per adult is licensed in New York. However, smoke-free air laws still exist, even for vaping, and you can’t smoke anything indoors or even on an outdoor cafe or in a park. Additionally, licenses for the sale of cannabis have not yet been issued: for now, only medical marijuana can be purchased at state dispensaries.
Someone books the botanical brunch and reports back. $40, food not included.
