Growing Takes Time Brings Playful World-Building to POSH HQ
On August 29th, POSH headquarters in SoHo was transformed into a living, breathing game world for Growing Takes Time — a one-night-only immersive arcade-meets-performance event choreographed by Karley Wasaff. This wasn’t just a show you watched. It was a world you entered, shaped, and helped grow.
The evening invited attendees to become astronauts in a playful yet high-stakes ecosystem, guiding Pikmin-inspired “PikMii” performers through games like slap hands, red light/green light, and hot potato. Each interaction built toward a moment of blooming — literally — as conflict resolution led to flowers emerging and prizes being unlocked. The more missions completed, the more rewards participants could claim, from collectible show items to THC infused beverages and edibles. This design encouraged repeat engagement, promising “level-ups” for guests who return to future activations.
Alongside the live performances, ARCHIV3 Creative Director Josh Sauceda curated a six-artist digital gallery that expanded the Growing Takes Time universe. Featuring work by Tori Page, Synne Kristine, SaintsRJ, Kalli Taub, HeartWorks.Horse, and Anand Manchiraju, the gallery presented world-building visuals that blurred the line between gameplay and art, offering attendees a contemplative space between the kinetic performance sets.
A VR demonstration led by Henry Okoro.
With two long rounds of live arcade gameplay throughout the evening, participants had the chance to jump in multiple times or simply observe as spectators. Between shows, the energy didn’t dip: the space buzzed with optional activities like social line dancing, jiu-jitsu mini-classes, and networking. Drinks flowed, goodie bags were claimed, and POSH’s SoHo hub felt less like a venue and more like a multiplayer arena for creativity, grit, and connection.
A big part of Growing Takes Time’s vibe came from its sponsors, whom added layers of wellness, education, and alternatives to the standard nightlife offerings. One of the evening’s featured sponsors, TBD (Studio TBD), provided its THC-infused green tea lemonade — a refreshing, non-alcoholic take on social drinks. The drink is made from organic, single-origin green tea, naturally decaffeinated, with low sugar, vegan, gluten-free, and infused with hemp-derived Delta-9 THC + CBD.
TBD is part of the fast-growing market of cannabis beverages that appeal to folks who want the relaxation, mood shift, or social ease of an infused drink, without the effects or drawbacks of alcohol. As more people exrplore “modern cannabis wellness” options — whether as part of sobriety journeys, healthful routines, or just trying something new — TBD’s offering felt especially timely.
At the event, TBD’s presence added to the immersive loop of reward and experience: sipping something novel while participating in the gameworld, plus the chance to unlock prizes and vibe with others. It helped shift the energy of what goes into “having a drink at a party” into something more conscious and experiential.
The next sponsor, Tribe & Vibe Collection, co-founded by Nathaniel Roots and Janelle Roots, brought something special beyond drinks — a strong educational and community component. Tribe & Vibe is known for wellness through food and beverage, sustainable practices, and programs that center health, community, and self-sufficiency.
At Growing Takes Time, Nathaniel Roots stood out not just because of Tribe & Vibe’s branding, but for physically engaging attendees: giving away flower pots as prizes, and leading a botany/growing-produce section. This included tips and hands-on encouragement about growing your own vegetation, produce, herbs, etc. It tied in beautifully with the motif of “growth,” not just metaphorical (in games and performance) but literal.
The presence of Tribe & Vibe helped underline one of the event’s deeper messages: growth takes time, but it’s rooted in care, patience, and tending to small things — whether that’s resolving a performative duel, or growing basil on your windowsill.
Growing Takes Time proved that immersive art can be more than spectacle — it can be participatory, collaborative, and endlessly replayable. Guests didn’t just witness a story unfold; they became co-authors of its growth. As the night closed, one thing was clear: this world will be waiting to welcome its players back, prizes in hand, ready to bloom even bigger next time.
