For someone who works for a nonprofit or the government, $500 a year for a gym plus the other amenities sounds like a great deal, and isn’t just for rich people.
Unlike at the Y, you'll need to be nominated for membership, so if you're not what the club considers exceptional or an undefinable "wild card," you'll just have to shlub your way down to the boring old gym.
The fees/dues seem low enough that most people in Boston could afford it, if they really wanted it. $4,000 is how much you spend taking the family to Disney.
most people in Boston could afford to take their family to Disney every year?
$4000 is over 10% of the median income in Boston. I don't think there are many people who are able to stash away 10% of their income for a vacation or club membership every year.
I can't believe I'm rooting for government here, but I hope she gets her ass handed to her on this after all the garbage she pulled with bars when she worked for Menino.
$4000 is less than $350 a month. I realize this is a good chunk of change but that's less than many car payments, not much more than an upscale gym membership and some people spend more than this on their cable and cell phone bills combined. That's the highest rate... The $500 a year is less than many social clubs with many less amenities. I imagine most people reading this blog could afford to go to this club if they made it a priority. I'm not personally willing to make it a priority but if I were to do so I could cut other things out of my life to make it work. I realize most of us are not the average income earner in this area but nobody brings that up when someone people spend money on any number if other things. I imagine if I lived near this place I'd be in a cramped studio without a car or might have 15 room mates so I think I'd find the resources to join if I was invited, especially because I'd qualify for the $500 rate under multiple boxes.
Increasing the capacity allows more people to have access to the space which overall is a good thing.
I realize this is a good chunk of change but that's less than many car payments
If people are making car payments, it's because they need a car in order to get to a job in order to survive. This is purely discretionary spending. A car or a cell phone is not.
You don't know anyone with a car who takes the subway to work? Two car (ha three, four...) house holds? Aren't people complaining around here ALL the time about families having too many cars, room mates all having cars?
I just don't understand why people are shocked about this , honestly. Boston has had social clubs for decades. The Masons down by the Common, Knights of Columbus all over, there are social clubs all over my city directly to the North of the city that aren't quite as pricy as this but still carry price tags of their own.
People don't need brand new cars yet I see new SUVs all over the place. People don't need to travel yet I know many people who take one or two trips for pleasure a year. It's not the majority of the city but we surely aren't talking about some sort of 1 percent elite. I know these people and I don't even live in a well off area. I have worked with a lot of low income communities and people over the years (and was low income most of my childhood) and honestly a club like this isn't what's keeping them up at night.
You are surrounded by people who pay hundreds for gym memberships... If someone spends a few dollars a day on coffee that's easily reaching over a hundred.
I just think there are a lot of blinders being put on here.
True but aren't all membership models based on this? It's why the gym near my apartment has a line of cars to get into the parking lot on January second but the lot is half empty February first lol.
Comments
I can see your tongue poking
I can see your tongue poking your cheek here, Adam.
I feel like
I feel like Muffy, Tuffy, & Cuffy were all missing from the meeting. Were they still on the vineyard and couldn't come?
Inclusion is just an
Inclusion is just an expression not an example.
Inclusion is just an illusion
Inclusion is just an illusion not an expression.
Neighbors so happy
It’s almost like they got memberships
SoHo club imitation
I wonder if the owners know the SoHo Club has never turned a profit. Odds are the Quin house won't either
Apostrephilia
It's apparently the 'Quin house. Preemtively mandating a cozy nickname, I guess, possibly including a specious undertone of Irishness.
Or maybe...
...a not-so-subtle wannabee imitation of the Algonquin Club? Surely even these jumped-up toffs wouldn't be that presumptuous.
Algonquin club membership
Its tradition for a private club to derive its name from native Americans and not have any native Americans as members.
For someone who works for a
For someone who works for a nonprofit or the government, $500 a year for a gym plus the other amenities sounds like a great deal, and isn’t just for rich people.
Yes, but ...
Unlike at the Y, you'll need to be nominated for membership, so if you're not what the club considers exceptional or an undefinable "wild card," you'll just have to shlub your way down to the boring old gym.
Go to Disney every year?
Go to Disney every year? Maybe you can but I could not afford it nor want to go
Nice work, Adam.
A subtle yet scathing summary of Squaresville.
The 'Round Table' Algonquin would be proud.
Beware of the Cyclops
Anyone watch the recent HBO series WATCHMEN? This place would be the Cyclops Boston chapter HQ.
The fees/dues seem low enough
The fees/dues seem low enough that most people in Boston could afford it, if they really wanted it. $4,000 is how much you spend taking the family to Disney.
Are you
taking the family to Disney every year?
No, because I don't really
No, because I don't really want to.
Do you really think
most people in Boston could afford to take their family to Disney every year?
$4000 is over 10% of the median income in Boston. I don't think there are many people who are able to stash away 10% of their income for a vacation or club membership every year.
Except Catholics ...
They have a tier for under
They have a tier for under 150k earners for $500 which is 40 dollars a month. That's less than a mid tier gym membership.
Is the baseline for everything 40k a year?
A tier for under $150k earners ...
In certain fields, who meet their exacting standards for being allowed to apply. It's not like the Y or a community-center pool.
Is this area zoned for making
Is this area zoned for making blood sacrifices to Moloch?
Not Interested
Skull and Bones is the only club for me.
What's a Yalie doing up here?
This is Crimson Country, bub.
But the Porcellian just doesn
But the Porcellian just doesn't compare with the mystery and pretentiousness of Skull and Bones.
Yale produced more Patriots than Harvard.
That den of Tories.
Wait
Patricia Malone is in on this?
I can't believe I'm rooting for government here, but I hope she gets her ass handed to her on this after all the garbage she pulled with bars when she worked for Menino.
$4000 is less than $350 a
$4000 is less than $350 a month. I realize this is a good chunk of change but that's less than many car payments, not much more than an upscale gym membership and some people spend more than this on their cable and cell phone bills combined. That's the highest rate... The $500 a year is less than many social clubs with many less amenities. I imagine most people reading this blog could afford to go to this club if they made it a priority. I'm not personally willing to make it a priority but if I were to do so I could cut other things out of my life to make it work. I realize most of us are not the average income earner in this area but nobody brings that up when someone people spend money on any number if other things. I imagine if I lived near this place I'd be in a cramped studio without a car or might have 15 room mates so I think I'd find the resources to join if I was invited, especially because I'd qualify for the $500 rate under multiple boxes.
Increasing the capacity allows more people to have access to the space which overall is a good thing.
What?
If people are making car payments, it's because they need a car in order to get to a job in order to survive. This is purely discretionary spending. A car or a cell phone is not.
You don't know anyone with a
You don't know anyone with a car who takes the subway to work? Two car (ha three, four...) house holds? Aren't people complaining around here ALL the time about families having too many cars, room mates all having cars?
I just don't understand why people are shocked about this , honestly. Boston has had social clubs for decades. The Masons down by the Common, Knights of Columbus all over, there are social clubs all over my city directly to the North of the city that aren't quite as pricy as this but still carry price tags of their own.
People don't need brand new cars yet I see new SUVs all over the place. People don't need to travel yet I know many people who take one or two trips for pleasure a year. It's not the majority of the city but we surely aren't talking about some sort of 1 percent elite. I know these people and I don't even live in a well off area. I have worked with a lot of low income communities and people over the years (and was low income most of my childhood) and honestly a club like this isn't what's keeping them up at night.
You are surrounded by people who pay hundreds for gym memberships... If someone spends a few dollars a day on coffee that's easily reaching over a hundred.
I just think there are a lot of blinders being put on here.
https://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/fanciest-fitness-clubs-boston/
Some sense there
If it was on my block and I lived in a cramped apartment, I could be persuaded to think of it as an extension to my living room.
But I don’t think that’s their business model; the most profitable members will be those who rarely visit.
True but aren't all
True but aren't all membership models based on this? It's why the gym near my apartment has a line of cars to get into the parking lot on January second but the lot is half empty February first lol.
Things could be worse…
I could be living in the Back Bay.