Moving to the District means there are countless museums and coffee shops to explore, but not every weekend will be filled with fun.
As an official adult, you’ll need to run errands at some point during your college career. But students may not know where to find essential services in a new city.
Here are the most convenient locations near campus to get all of your to-dos done:
Hair
Even if you got your hair cut at home before arriving in D.C., in about six weeks it will be time to hit the salon again.
The Watergate Barber, located at 2536 Virginia Avenue NW, is an easy walk from campus and cuts cost about $28. The shop offers cuts and shaves for men.
If you are looking for a salon, Diego’s Hair Salon is an old-fashioned spot famous for serving former Supreme Court justices, prime ministers and presidents located close to campus at 1901 Q St. NW. Cuts range from $25 to $60, depending on what you get, but be sure to stop by the ATM on your way there because the shop only accepts cash and checks.
If you’re looking for the cheapest cut you can find, the Aveda Institute in Chinatown is a salon school for those in training, so cuts cost as little as $12. While it may not be a revolutionary haircut, the salon on 713 7th St. NW is perfect for a quick back-to-school trim.
Banks
Most banks have online services that may allow students to keep accounts with banks that don’t have branches in the District. To supplement Colonial Cash, you can find several ATMs around campus to withdraw bills for a small fee if you’re not a customer. You can also get cash back when you make a purchase on a credit or debit card at CVS.
If you still prefer to switch to a bank in D.C., PNC Bank has ATMs in several University buildings, like the Elliott School of International Affairs and Funger Hall. A Bank of America ATM can be found in Phillips Hall and there is a location just off campus at 2001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Wells Fargo is also a popular pick, with an ATM in the shopping center right off campus at 23rd and E streets, and two banks next to the Farragut North Metro.
Mail
Package services for students living on Foggy Bottom is located at 2025 F St. NW. For smaller mail, mailboxes are located in the lobby of each residence hall. For residents of the Mount Vernon Campus, package services is located in the Vern’s parking garage, and mailboxes are found across the gym in Pelham Commons.
To pick up packages, wait until you’ve received an email from package services notifying you of a delivery to avoid long lines of students. Even if you’ve received a confirmation that your package was delivered, it may not be available to you yet because the staff on campus still needs to process it.
Gyms
To continue your workout regimen or start a new one, there are two free gyms available to students. The Lerner Health and Wellness Center on the Foggy Bottom Campus is located at 2301 G St. NW. If you opt into a group fitness pass for $79 per semester, you can take classes like Zumba and Bodypump. Before you head out, stop by the second floor to grab a fresh smoothie or acai bowl from South Block.
Students on the Vern can enjoy the smaller gym located adjacent to Pelham Commons in the basement of West Hall.
Technology
When your computer inevitably crashes at the worst possible moment, you can run to the IT Support Center in the basement of Rome Hall or seek help via phone or email.
If you want a second option on your device, visit Columbia Heights to see the Geek Squad at Best Buy, which is conveniently located across the street from the Columbia Heights Metro station. At uBreakiFix in Shaw, the storefront is a block away from the Shaw/Howard University Metro station and can service phones, computers and other devices in the same day.