Up? Down? Left? Right? Snow? Rain? Tomorrow? Tonight?

With so many conflicting weather reports over the last two or three days, it's no wonder many of us were thrown for a loop when we looked outside of our windows yesterday morning and too many inches of the white stuff stared back at us form the streets of the five boroughs. While our Explorers Academy Preschool closed, as per Mayor Michael Bloomberg's dictum for the city's public schools, which the EAP mimics, our Prospect Heights playspace on 186 Underhill Ave was open and full of hustle and bustle, as NY City Explorers' most loved toddler teacher, Alvino Johnson, led his usual Thursday morning classes, and even entertained a tot or two for drop-off babysitting. What a relief it was for neighborhood moms, pops and other caretakers to know that there was somewhere safe, warm and fun to stow their little ones away while they got down to the not-so-fun business of snow day shoveling, salting, and, in some cases, trying to get some work done from home! Find yourself in a similar pickle? Next time visit www.nycityexplorers.com, click Book a Sitter, and if you're lucky (and early enough!) watch the magic happen, as Amy Yurcan, our Creative Director and Childcare Coordinator does her best to match you with a fab in-home or drop-off sitter of your own.
Not familiar with Vino? Sign up for a class to see what all of the fuss is about. Last week's Hip to the Hop music class heard Theo requesting that Vino begin with parachute play. While we can understand his excitement, as everyone was 4-years-old and playing with the colorblock parachute at one point in time, many of us grown-up ladies and gents would rather save the best for last to keep us ticking through the day. Seems that Theo is more of a dessert-first kind of guy!
Even though Vino had the little ones attending last Thursday's class running, jumping, singing and laughing for 45 minutes of full-on fun, it seems that Todd had enough energy left over to stir up some mischief post-class. While other youngsters were refueling with snacks or enjoying story time with moms, dad and sitters, Todd found occasion to throw plastic balls at his peers instead. Perhaps in a few years Amy's husband, ever the devoted sports of all sorts fan, will be watching Todd play college basketball during the cold Winter months! Here's to hoping! We understand Todd; Even the adults in NYC are ready to throw some balls around in the park or backyard again after the past month's seemingly non-stop assault of wintry weather!