Taking Time for Herself: Laurelly Dale’s Metropolitan Club Story

In 2019, Laurelly Dale and her fiancé were seeking out wedding reception venues in the San Francisco area. Immigrating from Canada, they both wanted to meet new people and integrate into the Bay Area community. They found The Metropolitan Club initially as a reception venue, but the allure of membership lasted long after the festivities. 

Laurelly’s husband was still keen on joining a club, so both Dales found themselves searching for their own club experience–and for Laurelly, Christmas trees were the initial draw.

“I toured the Metropolitan Club around Christmas time,” she said. “It was a beautiful experience, with so many stunning trees. While we initially looked for the reception, I wanted to engage further.”

Reclaiming Her Time

The trees were Laurelly’s entry point into the club, but she was sold by the ability to escape the chaos of everyday life. She saw the club as an opportunity to reclaim time for herself, especially as life became more hectic coming out of the COVID era.

“Being able to access these buildings in the heart of downtown San Francisco allows me to escape from everything,” she said. “Initially during the COVID lockdown, I was working from home full time. Once the restrictions were lifted, the club became my escape–from home, from the office, even from my husband (whom I love, but sometimes still need a break from). It gave me peace and quiet, either to do work for a few hours or not at all.”

Staying Active

Laurelly actively participates in marathon running, having trained for the Berlin, New York, and Boston marathons. Staying active and preparing for these marathons requires several trips to the club’s fitness center–and several hours on the treadmill.

“Sometimes I’ll get up at 5:30 or 6:00 am, head over to the club, and complete a full training workout before I start work,” she said. “I often feel like I have the whole gym to myself, and that helps keep me centered and focused.”

Hosting a Coronation

As a native and proud Canadian, Laurelly grew up with ties to Great Britain and the Commonwealth of Nations. When the British crown passed from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III, she saw an opportunity to commemorate the coronation–even if thousands of miles away from home.

“I grew up in Canada, and there were always subtle differences between Canada and the U.S.,” she said. “We always started each school day with ‘God Save the Queen,’ and pictures of Queen Elizabeth II were in each of our classrooms. When she passed away, we encountered an event that hadn’t occurred in 72 years–and I pitched an idea to celebrate the King’s coronation at the club.”

Even Laurelly was surprised by the response.

“There were so many women interested,” she added. “Some Members brought vintage items from Queen Elizabeth’s coronation, perfectly preserved and with special memories of the monarchy. We also sang British songs and served a curated menu of King Charles’ favorite dishes. It was a truly special event.”

A Sense of Serenity

Laurelly has fully integrated into club life, even if she can only visit once every few weeks. For her, the club offers something that she can’t get anywhere else–a calm and peaceful escape from the rest of the world.

“It’s almost the equivalent of noise-canceling headphones for your life,” she added.

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