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

[Anonymous]

Food at cosmos club is really nice.

[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.

How much does it cost and does it have a pool?

[Anonymous]

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

My family calls the Cosmos Club “the funeral home”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

My family calls the Cosmos Club “the funeral home”.

Rude and not nice to teach your kids that. I was just there and there were several people in their 30-50’s and food was excellent. Most prestigious clientele of all clubs- walls are grill of members who have won all sorts of awards.

[Anonymous]

If you join the Cosmos, just know you get a great dining experience and a good number of lecture events to attend. These often are robust historical discussions and members lecturing about their decades-ago exploits. There is little interest and minimal facilities for physical fitness. The Cosmos would serve you well if you are in the final quarter of your career and not really looking for meaningful connections to advance your circumstances. Very few people active in their careers eat there for lunch. I've been a guest at some of their social events, which are packed with older persons gathered in tight circles with former academic colleagues. It really is a place all about celebrating the members' past achievements and not about building the lives of younger or middle-aged folks. If you are in your first or second quarter, the Metro or University is going to be more relevant to your needs. An exception might be for persons working at academic institutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I are interested in joining one of these town clubs. We live in NW DC near a Metro stop, so location and ease of access is one factor we're considering. What else should we think about? Would love to hear any thoughts on the differences between these clubs and/or your experience as a member.

With the exception of maybe the University Club none of the DC Clubs are just "joinable." You need strong "ins" with current members and a tremendous amount of cash, and often a notable hook or achivement of some kind. Do you have all of those?

The University Club is not just joinable. It is ranked top 20 clubs in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I are interested in joining one of these town clubs. We live in NW DC near a Metro stop, so location and ease of access is one factor we're considering. What else should we think about? Would love to hear any thoughts on the differences between these clubs and/or your experience as a member.

With the exception of maybe the University Club none of the DC Clubs are just "joinable." You need strong "ins" with current members and a tremendous amount of cash, and often a notable hook or achivement of some kind. Do you have all of those?

The University Club is not just joinable. It is ranked top 20 clubs in the country.

University Club is ranking higher than Met Club fyi

[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.

Met Club has a thriving younger set. Sulgrave is exclusive.

Met Club is GOP and stodgy. Sulgrave is a pretty club.

Cosmos is beautiful as well and University Club has quite a lot of high clientele members but people are more understated and do not flash their membership or talk about it but it actually has a large fitness center as well as on site squash courts so it is actually quite useful.

[Anonymous]

How much does it cost and does it have a pool?

Not exactly sure & depends on age, but I think initiation is under 10K & monthly dues are around $500. You could call and ask. The univ. club does have an indoor pool.

[Anonymous]

Do you even Society of the Cincinnati?

Can’t buy your way into that; it’s hereditary.

https://www.societyofthecincinnati.org/membership-overview/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I are interested in joining one of these town clubs. We live in NW DC near a Metro stop, so location and ease of access is one factor we're considering. What else should we think about? Would love to hear any thoughts on the differences between these clubs and/or your experience as a member.

You can't just join these clubs. You need a sponsor and invitation to join.

[Anonymous]

Ask about political leanings because some clubs are much further right or left than others and if you aren't interested in that you will want to know up front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask about political leanings because some clubs are much further right or left than others and if you aren't interested in that you will want to know up front.

DP. I know which ones lean right ie: Met Club, Sulgrave, and Chevy. Which ones lean left??

[Anonymous]

I'm a fan of the Maryland Club, but that's Baltimore, not DC. Especially if you play squash.

[Anonymous]

I am an immigrant and truly do not understand the value of clubs like Cosmos. I can understand one joining a country club to play golf/ tennis/ or use the gym.

We were invited to Cosmos the other day for a private reception and I couldn't understand what exactly do members do there? They seem to have a nice restaurant, and nice event facilities though but not sure what else. Do people get together to discuss intellectual topics?
I know I sound clueless. Asking a friend.