Anna Fader

Founder & CEO of Mommy Poppins
Anna was born in Park Slope, spent her early years in the West Village. By the time she graduated high school, she had lived in 4 of the 5 boroughs. Growing up in NYC in the '70s meant the streets were her playgrounds. Museums and avant garde music venues were the kid-friendly activities. And living downtown taught her the importance of creating community for families in NYC.

Now, raising her own two children in the city, she tries to create the same sense of magic and community she felt growing up, despite today's more commercialized version of kid-friendly New York.

She started Mommy Poppins in 2007 to share a more artsy, educational, uncommercial, community-oriented vision of raising kids in New York City. Today Mommy Poppins is relied on by millions of families as the authority on the best things to do with kids beyond New York City: from Boston to Philly, Los Angeles, Houston and travel guides for dozens more cities and destinations.

Latest posts by Anna

Best Places for High Tea in NYC to Enjoy a Cup with Kids

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 12/17/2024 - 12:36pm

Afternoon tea at The Palm Court in The Plaza is a long-celebrated tradition and a memorable outing during the holidays or perfect experience gift. Photo by Jody Mercier

Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just looking for a memorable experience, afternoon tea—sometimes called high tea in New York City—can be a fun outing with kids. It's an especially great winter outing and particularly fitting during the holidays.

Several places serve afternoon tea in New York City, with varying degrees of appropriateness for children. From the fancy Eloise Tea at The Plaza Hotel to the less frilly Russian Tea Room, there are teas—and goodies—for children of all ages and parents of all budgets. Here's our take on the best spots to enjoy high tea in NYC with kids. Bookmark our Guide to Kid-Friendly Restaurants for more family-friendly options for your next meal out.

Pictures with Santa Claus in NYC in 2024

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 12/02/2024 - 2:23pm

At the Apollo's Winter Wonderland, guests can take pictures with Santa and enjoy live performances. Photo courtesy of the Apollo

Santa Claus is coming to town and New York City kids have plenty of places to take pictures with Santa this season. From the heartwarming experience at Macy's Santaland to appearances at area malls—Santa is popping up and posing all over town.

Read on for our favorite spots to take pictures with Santa all across the five boroughs, including our very own Mommy Poppins Santa Studio at City Point that's completely FREE.

Our rundown of Christmas tree lightings in NYC offers more opportunities to see jolly old St. Nick, plus you can snap pictures with Santa these brunches, teas, and cruises. Our Guide to Christmas and the Holidays in NYC offers even more holiday fun.

NYC Public Restrooms: Apps, Maps, and Best Bets to Find Bathrooms on the Go

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 11/19/2024 - 10:47am

With a little know how, you'll know where to go the next time a potty emergency strikes.

Whether you're a tourist stuck in Times Square or a local on the go, finding a clean public restroom in NYC can be a challenge. However, with a little insider knowledge, you might realize there are actually clean and safe bathrooms all around NYC. This guide to NYC public restrooms includes the best resources for finding a clean public WC in the city, from restroom finder apps, to maps that claim to have mapped every bathroom location in NYC, to the most reliable places to find bathrooms in any borough.

If you want more insider tips on navigating NYC with kids, check out our NYC Travel Guide for Kids and Familles.

Best Neighborhoods to Trick-or-Treat on Halloween in NYC

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 10/28/2024 - 12:55pm

Halloween means candy galore in NYC. Photo by Diana Kim

If you think it's hard to trick-or-treat in New York City, think again. One of my favorite childhood memories of growing up in NYC was Halloween in Greenwich Village when the Village Halloween Parade was just a couple hundred artists and others who marched through the neighborhood. Afterward, we would trick-or-treat up and down the brownstone blocks. Everyone was friendly, and we would come home with our shopping bags filled. It was magical.

Although the parade and Greenwich Village have changed a lot since then, your kids can still enjoy that kind of thrilling trick-or-treat experience in many New York City neighborhoods. Which neighborhood is the best for Halloween trick-or-treating in NYC depends on who you ask. So, we turned to our astute readers and collected recommendations from our parent-driven NYC staff over many, many years to bring you a list of the best places to trick-or-treat in New York City, so you'll know where to bring your kids on October 31. It's always a good bet to join one of the local Halloween parades, and then go trick-or-treating throughout the community with local families.

For more seasonal fun, check out our jam-packed New York City Kids Halloween Guide, which showcases FREE Halloween events, pumpkin patches, and more.

Best Clothing Labels and Name Tags for Kids' Gear—for Camp, School, or Daycare

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 08/13/2024 - 9:05am

Parents rave about the staying power of Mabel's Labels.

Labeling kids' gear: it's a parenting chore that just needs to get done. As kids prepare for a new school year or camp season, we need to label every article of clothing, towel, backpack, lunchbox, thermos, and every other bit of gear that will travel along to summer camp, to school, or to daycare—in the hopes that when it inevitably gets lost, it will find its way home to you.

Nothing's going to make this job of labeling camp clothes, baby bottles, or school supplies fun, but we've rounded up the whole range of different ways you can label your kids' stuff, from swimsuits to water bottles and sippy cups, with beautifully embroidered personalized labels to fun, custom name tags with cute, colorful designs, to ones you can make at home.

Here are a few of the best name labels for kids' and baby gear that we've found, and yes, most offer dishwasher-safe, easy peel-and-stick options!

Check out our Back-to-School Guide or our local summer camp guide for more ideas!

Cherry Blossoms in NYC: Cherry Blossom Festivals and Where to See the Blooms

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 04/05/2024 - 12:34pm

The Green-Wood Cemetery has gorgeous cherry blossoms and amazing views. Photo by Amy Nieporent

Viewing the beautiful cherry blossoms in New York City or attending a local cherry blossom festival is one of the most delightful rites of spring. In Japan, cherry blossom viewing is taken to almost religious heights. Blooming flowers are carefully watched, enjoyed, and celebrated. Traditional Sakura Hanami parties feature eating, drinking, and music.

There are many places to enjoy gorgeous cherry blossoms in NYC this spring, and take note—the cherry blossoms are just beginning to burst to life. Here are the best places to see cherry blossoms and celebrate whith cherry blossom festivals in New York City this spring. Find more seasonal happenings in our NYC Kids' Guide to Spring Fun.

Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants and More Places to Eat Near the National Mall in Washington, DC

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 03/01/2024 - 2:00pm

There are several great places to eat with kids near the National Mall. Photo courtesy of Carmine's

When people think of Washington, DC, the National Mall and Memorial Parks are typically the first place that comes to mind. Home to over 100 monuments and memorials, it tops our list of the best tourist attractions in DC. But finding good, kid-friendly food near the National Mall can be a real challenge—one you really don't need when you and your kids are hungry and tired from a long day of walking.

To help you fill your families' tummies fast, here are our favorite kid-friendly restaurants and other places to eat near the National Mall. From sit-down eateries to food trucks to museum cafes, all of these spots are within walking distance of the Mall.

For even more great places to eat with kids in our nation's capital, check out our Kid-Friendly DC Restaurants Guide.

Announcing Mommy Poppins' First Baby Show and New PLAYTOPIA Event Series

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 02/22/2024 - 11:25am

You may have noticed that Mommy Poppins started to produce our own family events last year. This year, we’ve rebranded our epic events under the PLAYTOPIA name with CAMPTOPIA in February, PLAYTOPIA and Seaport Kids x SPRINGTOPIA in March, and we’re excited to announce BABYTOPIA, our first baby show, on April 13!

Our mission, with our partner Brooklyn Bridge Parents, is for PLAYTOPIA events to create exceptionally fun, educational, and interactive events where families can play together, discover local small businesses and brands, and create community. So far the feedback has been terrific and we’re confident that when you see one of our “TOPIA” events promoted, you'll know it’s going to be a world of fun.

BABYTOPIA presented by PediaGROW is a free event for new and expectant parents and families with toddlers through nursery school-aged kids. Join us there to meet local businesses for young families, plus discover top gear brands and services that make life through pregnancy and early parenting easier, more fun, healthy, and smart.

Anna Fader

Latest posts by Anna

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