Sorry I was not able to do a “What Is Open on Monday” post today, the day you probably most need it with cabin fever insanity reaching record levels and with the kids all out of school.  To those of you that e-mailed or Tweeted me wondering where my 4-1-1 post was, I apologize that I was not able to personally get back to you with tailored activity ideas like I normally try to do.

You see, my road has not been plowed, and we are three city blocks of waist-deep snow from any major roads.  We’ve tried carrying the kids on our backs down to the highway, but they start hysterically crying and fighting with each other every time we try.

My husband (the one whose job pays the mortgage) was feverishly working from home today while I fiendishly tried to occupy the kids and keep any blood-curdling screams from reaching his conference calls to his team all morning. I also had to clean a disgustingly dirty house that four people and two animals have not been able to leave for 72 hours before our neighbors arrive tonight for a Snowmageddon drinks, dessert and more drinks party.

So those of you that wanted to know what was open, that means that your road has been plowed. It means you are able to leave and go somewhere.  Anywhere.

So while I am sincerely sorry I could not help you, I also ENVY YOU.

However, I obviously have power and Internet and thus I am well-aware that I am totally enviable and blessed myself.  My friend Jodifur in Potomac?  She texted today that she expects to be out of power until FRIDAY.  Other friends in Rockville just returned home from the Bethesda Marriott where they took refuge with their four kids for a few days and found  $300 worth of groceries rotten in their fridge.

These are hard times people. (Yummm, Hard Times, how I miss you.)

I’d suggest we all virtually hold hands and sing  Kumbaya around virtual fires, but at our house we ran out of firewood over here on Saturday.

But you know what we still have over here?  Heineken, La Crema, 10 pounds of frozen edamame and a huge box of World’s Finest chocolate bars that my kid is supposed to sell for a school fundraiser.  Things could be worse.

Yes my friends, I’ll be here all the week.  Try the veal.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7

Be With Me The Children’s Playseum in Bethesda is open NOW and serving free hot chocolate, coffee and tea from Starbucks!  They have just started having Sunday open play, but opened several hours early today to give the families without power a place to play!  Leave a comment here before midnight tonight February 7 to receive one of FIVE free admission passes, courtesy of Be With Me’s owner. With schools very likely closed some days this week, you’ll need it!

Great Kids Village Silver Spring is opening at 11:30am this morning and will stay open as long as people keep showing up (note:  regular hours are usually ’til 6pm, but they may close early if people stay away due to snow or Super Bowl.)

The Family Room on Capitol Hill is open 12-6pm.

The Newseum is open today from 9am-5pm as usual.  The staff all spent the night at the museum on Friday night so they could be open yesterday too.

We Love DC has a list of open restaurants in The District.

Know of a place that’s open for families today?  Mention it in the comments, help your fellow parents and be entered to win a free pass to Be With Me in Bethesda!

Are you reading this on your phone because you’re out of power or connection due to the snow storm?  Let me help you.  I wish I could provide you with a beer, some hot Thai takeout, a deep tissue shoulder massage after you shoveled out your front walk, but since I’m snowed in too, these are  the best virtual pressies I can provide.

Hypothermia Hotline – If you see a homeless person, calll 1 (800) 535-7252 IMMEDIATELY

PepCo – Report an Outage 1 (877) PEPCO-62, Report Downed Wires (202) 872-3432

PepCo Stormcenter – Shows areas out of power

BGE -  1-877-778-2222

Dominion - 1-888-667-3000
Allegheny Power – 1-800-255-3443

Montgomery County Plowing of Roads - Highway Services at 240-777-6000, FAQs

“Plowing and salting major county roads. All crews will continue this process until all precipitation stops and all major county roads and primary neighborhood streets are cleared. After a 24-inch snowfall [stops falling], our crews should complete the work in about 48 to 60 hours.”

Metro Service – No above ground service or Metrobus running, below-ground service active until 11pm, modified service schedule here . Glenmont to Forest Glen service running in Silver Spring. Yellow Line – Pentagon to Crystal City, Red Line – Medical Center to Union Station and Glenmont to Forest Glen, Orange Line – Ballston to Stadium-Armory, Green Line – Fort Totten to Congress Heights, Blue Line – Ballston to Stadium-Armory.

Report Downed Trees

In The District – call 311 for downed trees, Montgomery – 240-777-6000, Prince George’s – 301-499-8600, Fairfax – 703-383-8368.

Locate a Towed Car in The District – You may have been blocking the plow.  Call (202) 727-5000.

Washington Gas – Customer Service for interuptions in service  (703) 750-1000

“To avoid the possibility of an interruption in gas service, Washington Gas would like to remind its customers to clear any accumulated snow from their natural gas meters and regulator vents as well as any appliance exhausts using hands, a brush or broom.”

Comcast – 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278), Live Chat with Customer Service

Verizon -1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966), Live Chat with Customer Service

Cox -703-378-8422, Live Chat with Customer Service

Reminder: It’s every resident’s responsibility to shovel out his/her entrance to his/her residence, sidewalk and driveway.

Snow Ice Cream recipes

Scrabble domination strategy tip, for those of you in family board game land: save your “S” tiles to simply make plural your adult opponent’s best high-scoring words.  Do it even if you could score higher using your own tiles.  It ticks them off so much it messes with their strategy and mires them in self-doubt.  Also, hoard your A, E, I, N, R tiles for maximum chances at using all seven of your tiles for the 50 point bingo bonus. (These tips are from an anonymous devoted but devious wife and The Imperial Valley Student Scrabble Tournament Champion, 1988 and 1989.)

Trivial Pursuit best guesses: Your first instinct is usually right, don’t overthink it. Say only last names, because if you only have the last name you’re right, but if you verbalize an incorrect first name, you’re out.  Stumped?  Always guess, never pass.  When in doubt, guess Muhammad Ali for all-around sports stuff, Ted Williams for baseball, China for country questions involving technology or population, Japan for country questions about weird practices, Stephen Sondheim for Broadway/musicals/songs, Katherine Hepburn for Best Actress.

How To Win at Monopoly: Buy all railroads, skip the utilities, never sell a much-needed property to your opponent no matter how sweet the deal, get hotels on the purples by Go and the oranges by Free Parking.

Good night and good luck!

Silver Spring Places That Are Staying Open ALL WEEKEND Through the Storm

(Yes, I called to confirm. )

Piratz Tavern – shivering timbers all weekend

McGinty’s Silver Spring - luck o’ the Irish

Quarry House - all weekend baby with ‘tots a plenty

The Corner Pub – this place is crazy

For Young Urban Couples That Go Out With Baby in the Carseat Carrier:

We Love DC has the 411 on bars, drink specials and restaurants open in The District with Snow Specials

For Kids At Heart

The Official Dupont Circle Group Snowball Fight – there’s already 3,300 members!  Join either the North or the South factions at 2pm tomorrow, and then head over to One Lounge (1606 20th St, 20th off Q St) for the after-party. And there are more fights in other places in The District.

Get a Sitter If You Can

@DCScene on Twitter (aka NBC Washington.com) has alerts on more nightlife open for frosty frolicking fun

Catch A Game (via DCist)

So far, the Verizon Center is saying that all its Caps, Hoyas and Wizards games are going on as scheduled.  DCist has the links to double check.

Well, I’m off to have a hot date with Chris and Netflix Streaming…enjoy  your own snowed in, or out, adventures!

Hey, if you learn of a place that’s open, leave a mention in the comments so we all can join you when cabin fever hits.

So, I had a massive Weekend Picks post all planned and written super duper ahead of time, per your comments’ recommendations regarding improving the site/planning your weekends, but I held it back because of the hype about the impending #Snowmageddon. (or #snowpocalypse or #snOMG, depending on your preference.)  And sure enough, the emails have been heavy this afternoon about events being rescheduled all over the place.  I advise all of you guys to call ahead to any regularly-opened attraction.  Most special and annual events will be rescheduled for a less stormy weekend in February.  (Because here’s what DC does when it snows.)

The Smithsonian Museums often stay open when everything else shuts down – check the Smithsonian blog Around the Mall to see if they’re open -  and local restaurants often will open their doors to neighborhood residents within walking distance, creating fun impromptu parties in the ‘hood.

Here’s a few web-mendations for fun this weekend:

INDOOR SNOWED IN ACTIVITY IDEA SITES

Teach Mama.com - Educational, easy and interesting activities to share with your kids

Valentine’s Day Crafts on Little Elephants – A great craft & recipe blog

More Valentine’s Day Crafts – from Parents Connect

Science in the Kitchen – easy experiment ideas from PBS Parents

OUTDOOR SNOWY-LOVING FUN

Washington FAMILY’s Recs for Sledding Hills

More Great Hills for Sledding in the DC Area From the Washington Post Going Out Gurus’ Chat today:

Julia Beizer: This just in. One of our editors says the H.B. Woodlawn school [in Arlington - Jess] has a “legendary” hill.

Another one of our colleagues actually got a press release from Fairfax County (I believe) saying this:

Fairfax County Parks Offer Best Local Sledding Hills

- Lake Fairfax Park located at Lake Fairfax Drive in Reston, just off Route 606. Sledding on the hill behind the picnic area restrooms.

- Mason District Park located at 6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale, approximately two miles east of the Little River Turnpike. Sledding on the hill at the end of Meadow Trail.

- Jefferson Manor Park located at 2909 Farmington Drive at the intersection of Telegraph and Franconia Roads in Alexandria. Sledding on the hill from the shelter building toward Telegraph Road.

- Cardinal Forest Park located at 6121 Roxbury Avenue in Springfield. Sledding along the sewer easement between Carleigh Parkway and Roxbury Avenue.

- Greenway Heights Park located at 8203 Riding Ridge Place in Great Falls, just south of Rt. 193. Sledding through the stream valley property.

- Westgate Park at 7550 Magarity Road in McLean, approximately one mile east of Tysons Corner. Sledding behind the second ball field.

Deal Hill: Deal Hill [in NW DC - Jess] IS fun for sledding and a nice mix of the young and young-at-heart. Not to mention dogs galumphing through the snow. Since it’s pretty much right at Tenley Metro, you can also find places to grab a coffee or cheap eats. See you there!

Rhome Anderson: Is there anything better than galumphing dogs? I think not.

SUPER BOWL GAME DAY FUN WITH KIDS

NFL Rush – The NFL Kids’ Site

Super Bowl Party Ideas for Kids – From Amazing Moms

Host a Kid-Friendly Super Bowl Party- From Parenting.com

Kid-Friendly Super Bowl Party -From Manic Mommies

Afraid of another wardrobe malfunction, or overly-endowed Budweiser girls?  Turn to the Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet during the commercial.  (And don’t miss the Kitty Halftime Show.)

Have fun hitting the madhouse grocery stores today and tomorrow morning.  Forget the toilet paper and milk – be sure to pick up Play-Doh and beer!