University Club, Cosmos Club, Other Clubs - Please Advise!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The University Club has the best fitness facilities by far plus a lovely spa. Overnight rooms have been refurbished and are beautiful. Better reciprocity than other clubs you've mentioned. A MUCH younger membership than the others you've mentioned. Contrary to what other posters said-- there is an active kids club. Fun & intellectual programs for adults too. I also want to contradict what a PP said about arriving via public transit. Plenty of members do this. Including me! A lot also live w/in walking distance.

You clearly are not a member of the other clubs and don’t travel much. The UClub reciprocity gets you everywhere that’s not really all that great. Just Mill Reef alone (besides NYC, London, Paris, San Fran, Chicago, Pittsburgh) sets others apart.

[Anonymous]

My godmother is a member of the Cosmos Club. She and her husband are accomplished, smart. well-traveled, and fun people in their late 70s. They occasionally invite us to dinner at the club because it's their way of reciprocating for invitations we extend to them (e.g., we always have them for Thanksgiving at our house because they live in a condo and don't entertain much anymore). The food at the Cosmos Club is awful and the atmosphere is like a crypt filled with white people. The last time we went there was when their daughter was visiting from out of town. After diner, she told them that next time we should just order takeout from an Indian restaurant they love. My godmother's husband said, "That's brilliant! Why didn't we think of that?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My godmother is a member of the Cosmos Club. She and her husband are accomplished, smart. well-traveled, and fun people in their late 70s. They occasionally invite us to dinner at the club because it's their way of reciprocating for invitations we extend to them (e.g., we always have them for Thanksgiving at our house because they live in a condo and don't entertain much anymore). The food at the Cosmos Club is awful and the atmosphere is like a crypt filled with white people. The last time we went there was when their daughter was visiting from out of town. After diner, she told them that next time we should just order takeout from an Indian restaurant they love. My godmother's husband said, "That's brilliant! Why didn't we think of that?"

Meanwhile, one of the other clubs has a cellar filled with the best burgundies and champagnes and invites the world’s greatest winemakers to discuss and sample their wines with members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My godmother is a member of the Cosmos Club. She and her husband are accomplished, smart. well-traveled, and fun people in their late 70s. They occasionally invite us to dinner at the club because it's their way of reciprocating for invitations we extend to them (e.g., we always have them for Thanksgiving at our house because they live in a condo and don't entertain much anymore). The food at the Cosmos Club is awful and the atmosphere is like a crypt filled with white people. The last time we went there was when their daughter was visiting from out of town. After diner, she told them that next time we should just order takeout from an Indian restaurant they love. My godmother's husband said, "That's brilliant! Why didn't we think of that?"

Meanwhile, one of the other clubs has a cellar filled with the best burgundies and champagnes and invites the world’s greatest winemakers to discuss and sample their wines with members.

Which one is this?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My godmother is a member of the Cosmos Club. She and her husband are accomplished, smart. well-traveled, and fun people in their late 70s. They occasionally invite us to dinner at the club because it's their way of reciprocating for invitations we extend to them (e.g., we always have them for Thanksgiving at our house because they live in a condo and don't entertain much anymore). The food at the Cosmos Club is awful and the atmosphere is like a crypt filled with white people. The last time we went there was when their daughter was visiting from out of town. After diner, she told them that next time we should just order takeout from an Indian restaurant they love. My godmother's husband said, "That's brilliant! Why didn't we think of that?"

Meanwhile, one of the other clubs has a cellar filled with the best burgundies and champagnes and invites the world’s greatest winemakers to discuss and sample their wines with members.

Which one is this?!?

Some visits in the last couple of years have included the top folks at Harlan, Cheval Blanc, DRC, Margaux, Latour, Sassicaia, YQuem, 100 Acre, Laffite, among others.

Mr. De Villaine or Harlan wants to pour their wine and talk about it, wow. Fun.

[Anonymous]

I recently gave a talk at the cosmos club. At least half the audience members were using walkers.

[Anonymous]

My stepmother is a member at the Sulgrave Club. I believe that all members there have to be women.

We go to events there a few times a year - they do a Gingerbread House brunch, Easter brunch, etc. They get takeout from there sometimes and definitely go to events and lectures.

The crowd at the events is super fancy. A lot of smocking on the kids. A lot of red pants with embossed Christmas trees on the men. Extremely white, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cosmos is very academic/intellectual. I have had dinner with friends there a few times and think it's pretty nice. (Both friends who are members are childless legal academics, so it's right up their alleys.) I have literally never seen a child there and the average age at dinner is 70ish.

+1 to all of this. The only time I've ever seen a child there was the flower girl at a wedding.

I'm not a member of but have been to the Cosmos Club fairly regularly in recent years for meetings of a group built around a pretty obscure academic interest, and to dinner (Lobster night once a month!) with friends. But I am in my late 50s and everybody is significantly older than me. Smart, interesting, educated, friendly, not stodgy, but that said, it is a club and it has a dress code etc.

Nobody is going there to exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently gave a talk at the cosmos club. At least half the audience members were using walkers.

Yeah, man. Old people suck and have nothing left to offer society, amirite?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really don’t like the Met Club. SO old fashioned. That said I do like Sulgrave, which is also old fashioned but without the misogynistic flair.

Sulgrave is all women. So I suppose that probably explains it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The University Club has the best fitness facilities by far plus a lovely spa. Overnight rooms have been refurbished and are beautiful. Better reciprocity than other clubs you've mentioned. A MUCH younger membership than the others you've mentioned. Contrary to what other posters said-- there is an active kids club. Fun & intellectual programs for adults too. I also want to contradict what a PP said about arriving via public transit. Plenty of members do this. Including me! A lot also live w/in walking distance.

Probably a bad sign if club members have to come on here to advertise. LOL @ UClub.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really don’t like the Met Club. SO old fashioned. That said I do like Sulgrave, which is also old fashioned but without the misogynistic flair.

Sulgrave is all women. So I suppose that probably explains it.

Yes, that was my point.

[Anonymous]

I am not a country clubber but have been at the Metro for about 20 years. Everything there is done at a very high standard. My daughter has been genuinely welcomed there many times since she was very young. They do several child-specific events each year which are packed and festive. There is always a long waiting list to join, which is a great indicator that they are delivering what their market wants -- top level family, cuisine and lecture events. Metro has a "happening" and "vigorous" vibe and the downtown-business location and orientation appeals to friends and clients. It is quite expensive, but I find it worth it for our family. The age of members is well-distributed across generations, so there is no "old man" feel. I don't know much about the University, but understand they are usually looking for new members to keep the operation going -- so I presume it is probably less expensive and easier to join. We have friends that belong to Cosmos and have been there as guests for meals. I am not in any way against elderly people, but it is true that there is an overwhelming advanced elderly vibe there.

[Anonymous]

I've been a guest at the University Club a few times. If I lived in DC I might try to join. My friends have it paid for by their employers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know what any of these things are.

It’s sorority rush, but with older smarter people with bigger egos.

I would have to say the Cosmos Club is the place that is the least like a fraternity/sorority of anywhere that I have ever been. The polar opposite of Animal House.

We have reciprocity at the Cosmos Club through another club so we go there about once per month and it is very nice and great food. They have redone the Club and Main Dining room completely in recent years. It is beautiful and the people there are very nice and yes all super educated, etc..... That would be my top pick of the city clubs. Kenwood would be my top pick of the Country Clubs. Nice families there.