The Crush Letter: Culture / Comments

I'm Dish and I write a weekly newsletter about life, love & culture for those over 40. Because it's a lot cooler than they said it would be. Want me on the regular?  Hell yes, sign me up for the Dish.

Hello Crush,

If you're new here (welcome!), I'm Dish, the Master of Ceremonies. For more about me and why we're here go here.


I checked out the buzzy new store gotham on its opening day this week.

And wow! I predict you're going to be hearing a lot more about this concept cannabis store in the East Village. Not only because it is one of the first stores in NYC to get a license to sell cannabis from the City's Office of Cannabis Management, but because it is a beautiful, sophisticated, upscale and cultured experience. Think Apple store meets John Derian meets Butterfield Market.

The first thing you notice when you enter is gotham's version of a "tree of life," growing through the center of the space up onto the ceiling. The artistry is exquisite, and it is an inviting, organic element to contrast with the store's clean, minimal lines.

A tree grows in gotham
A closer look at gotham's tree

Founder Joanne Wilson is a retail veteran who knows how to put together all the pieces, from the visual space to the merchandising to the marketing. For anyone interested in her exhilirating journey in pulling her gotham project together, including being among the first to score a coveted cannabis license, Wilson shares her twisty story here. I had invested alongside Wilson in a very early cannabis start-up based in San Francisco almost seven years ago, so I know firsthand that she has been passionate about the space as an early mover.

gotham is as much a lifestyle and culture offering as it is about selling a well-curated selection of cannabis products. Walking into gotham feels like the pop of de-corking a fine bottle of champagne: fizzy, bright and electric with possibility. The staff is enormously friendly and well-educated about the cannabis product line. One shared a story about her trip to visit Marijuana Farms New York, one of the lines from an upstate farm that gotham carries. Everything gotham carries is premium, small-batch and artisinal, which makes the exploration of new products feel safe.

I went home with a lot of wonderful things to try, including the exquisitely packaged pre-rolls from Drew Martin (I am trying Be Bright and Be Open, because who wouldn't want to be?), and a selection of gummies from rose (delights and 1:1) and mfny (tangerine fritter (for arousal) and pillowtalk (for sleep)). I can't wait. Finally, a place where we can shop for cannabis that feels like it is designed to include cannabis users of all ages. gotham is an inviting place that I'll be going back to again and again.

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Hope you find lots to love about your week end, Crushes. See you next Saturday.

XO,
Dish

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The Crush Letter
The Crush Letter is a weekly newsletter curated by Dish Stanley on everything love & connection - friendship, romance, self-love, sex. If you’d like to take a look at some of our best stories go to Read Us. Want the Dish?