Out & About: Services in University City

WHAT: Whether you’ve worked on campus for a while or are new to Penn, it’s easy to forget some of the basic amenities that are on and around campus. What follows is a brief list of some of these services.

CLEAN SHIRTS: There are several dry cleaners very close to campus. Bonded Cleaners at 3724 Spruce St. is located just a stone’s throw from campus. Men’s dress shirts cost $1.75 and ladies’ blazers run $6.50. There’s also All Seasons Cleaners, located at 40th and Chestnut streets. There, men’s dress shirts cost between $1.95 and $2.50 to launder and ladies’ blazers run $5.50. Off the Cuff, located at 36th and Chestnut, around the corner from the Sheraton Hotel, doesn’t have a price list and prefers customers bring in their clothes before quoting a price. Franklin Cleaners at 3610 Lancaster Ave. in Powelton Village costs $2.30 for men’s dress shirts and about $4.95 for ladies’ blazers.

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: University City has two post offices—the main branch at 3000 Chestnut St., which is open from 7 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, and a smaller location at 228. S. 40th St., which is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. You can buy stamps at those locations, or at the PennCard Center, 150 Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut St., or from CVS, with locations at 3401 Walnut St. or 3925 Walnut St.

ALL ABOARD: If you need to get hold of some SEPTA tokens (which cost $1.55 each—a bargain from the usual $2 ride), you can check the five campus locations: the lobby of 3401 Walnut St.; the lower floor of Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St.; Housing & Conference Services in Stouffer Commons, 3702 Spruce St.; Penn Bookstore, 36th and Walnut streets; and the Student Federal Credit Union, 3401 Walnut St., 4th Floor-A wing. For information on how to purchase a transit pass, go to www.upenn.edu/parking and click on “Sustainable Commuting” at the top of the page.

LOCKED OUT: If you need keys made, you’ll have to take a hike west of campus to either West Philadelphia Locksmith at 31 S. 42nd St. or Monarch Hardware at 4502 Walnut St. The latter also has an incredible amount of household repair items stacked from floor to ceiling.

GAS UP: While there aren’t any gas stations on campus, there are some just a quick drive away: Sunoco stations at 45th and Baltimore and 46th and Walnut streets; Amin Gas at 4548 Baltimore; BP stations at 45th and Market and 46th and Chestnut; and a Hess station at 34th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue.

FRESH FLOWERS: If you need to send flowers to a loved one or pick up a bouquet on your way home, you can swing by Kiara & Co. Florist at 3622 Lancaster Ave., Rose’s Florist at 3551 Chestnut St., or Fleuradelphia, located in the main concourse of 30th Street Station.

dry cleaning