Love in the Time of Bath

Love in the Time of Bath

What do Carrie Bradshaw, Valentine's Day and the city of Bath have in common? Cocktails! Like the principal character of the 1998 television phenomenon "S.. and the City," Bath has a cosmopolitan connection.  For 101 years the ladies of the Cosmopolitan Club, the only women's club in Maine with its own clubhouse, have been working to keep the fun in Bath Time.  Cosmo ladies know that home is where the heart is, and they will be opening their heart at 849 Washington Street this Valentine's weekend when they host a "Love for the Cosmopolitan Clubhouse" cocktail party from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on February 15, 2014. The bar will be serving two "signature" cocktails.  One can only imagine a Carrie or Samantha serving a cosmopolitan in a stylish glass! Joe and I have decided to attend this ultimate happy hour in Bath. After all, we only have to stroll down the street where we sometimes live! I am becoming a great fan of this historic club which was established on April 11, 1913 by Miss Elizabeth Webber, the one time owner of the gracious Greek Revival style home which still serves today as its clubhouse. The members purchased the house in 1915, and a century later they are raising funds with rather unique events to restore their lovely meeting place.

Last July, less than a week after purchasing our home on Washington Street, my whole family attended the  Strawberry Shortcake Festival at the Cosmopolitan Club. The event was advertised as one of the highlights of Bath's Heritage Days, and it was the only event my daughter suggested. Her brothers, sister-in-law, dad and I agreed to go. Katie is very persuasive! We had no idea what to expect, but we hoped there would be lots of whipped cream involved, and I secretly feared there would be dozens of children running around with big screen TVs playing Strawberry Shortcake cartoons from the 1980's in the background. To our delight, the reality was a high tea like atmosphere with hostesses seating families at round and square tables with white and red linens and tall glasses of lemonade. As for the strawberry shortcake, it was homemade and delicious. Suddenly, the melting hot July day became sweet, and pleasant, and incredibly cheerful. And that is when I decided to find out more about the Cosmopolitan Club!

As a new member of the Seasonal Society of Bath, I am intrigued by this mighty women's club and its loyal following. I have learned that every November, right after Thanksgiving, they host a Gingerbread Social. Can it possibly be as good as their strawberry shortcake? I think it is necessary to taste and see! Joe and I hope to spend next Thanksgiving in Bath, and we will seize the day after Thanksgiving for the test. In the meantime, we will be wearing the suggested "red and white dressy casual attire" on February 15, 2014  at the Cosmopolitan Clubhouse on Washington Street, and I for one will be ordering a traditional, cosmopolitan cocktail. At the same time, I will be supporting the women's club that in 1917 was sending care packages to WWI French war victims and in 1941 was buying defense bonds to help our troops fighting in WWII. These fine ladies of Bath clearly represent
the best of society! And they do it all in such an uplifting, light hearted way.