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

Announcing Our New Website, Poppins Perks, With Huge Discounts for Families

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 12/14/2010 - 6:18am

On January 7, 2011 it will be exactly 4 years from the day that I posted my first post on Mommy Poppins. As the site has grown, I have asked myself what can I do, now that Mommy Poppins is read by hundreds of thousands of parents every month, to make a real, immediate difference in the lives of other New Yorkers. The answer that I came up with was to start a new site that would be dedicated to raising money for NYC schools. Education has always been a passion of mine and I have been a dedicated advocate of NYC public schools, which are struggling more than ever with terrible budget cuts.

So I am very excited to announce the launch of my newest website, Poppins Perks, which will offer great deals for NYC families with 40-90% off of products and services we love, plus each Perk will be targeted to fund an important project for one NYC classroom through a partnership with DonorsChoose.

I hope that Poppins Perks will enable you to try out more of the best things in New York City for families at unbelievable prices. Read on to hear more about Poppins Perks and our first Perk, a great Holiday gift for a friend, relative (or yourself!)

NYC Bloggers Do the Holidays

Submitted by Anna Fader on Wed, 12/01/2010 - 7:40am

This is the second year that I've teamed up with an eclectic group of NYC bloggers to put together a Holiday Guide, each posting a Holiday-themed post on our own blogs and then linking them all to each other. Each blog is a NYC-Centric blog with its own unique lens through which it views the city. The resulting Holiday Guide offers a wide range of gift ideas and things to do and I think you'll agree that this has to be one of the most eclectic Holiday Guides out there.

I hope this introduces you to some new blogs in the 'hood and some off the beaten track NYC holiday ideas. Check out our Holiday Guide for more great Holiday activities and gift ideas.

High Teas in New York City with Kids: Lady Mendl's Tea Salon

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 11/29/2010 - 4:12am

Lady Mendl's is a true Victorian tea salon in a brownstone on Irving Place near Union Square. Walk up the stoop and through the all but unmarked door for an elegant, classic five course English afternoon tea in a Victorian era brownstone parlor. Sit on couches by the fireplace or at elegantly set tables and enjoy a filling afternoon tea of sandwiches, scones with Devonshire clotted cream and jam, desserts and bottomless pots of tea from a wide selection, including several of their own blends.

There are no gimmicks here or a child's menu. The fun of Lady Mendl's is in its "grown-upness'" and authenticity. Lady Mendl's is not for pretend playing, it's a true escape into another time and place for a few hours.

Afternoon Children's Tea At The Russian Tea Room

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 11/29/2010 - 4:04am

Having afternoon tea (sometimes also called high tea) can be a fun outing with kids whether you are celebrating a special occasion or looking for a memorable part of your visit to New York. The Russian Tea Room's Children's Tea offers a relatively affordable and fun way to experience this legendary restaurant right next to Carnegie Hall in Midtown.

The Russian Tea Room's Children's Tea includes a selection of hot teas or a hot chocolate that comes with both whipped cream and mini marshmallows, so, ironically, children can experience the tradition of afternoon tea without actually sipping on tea at all.

Is It That Time Already? Yup, Our Holiday Guide is Up!

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sun, 11/21/2010 - 7:42pm

Yes, it's that time already. The unstoppable express train that is the Holiday Season is upon us. I have actually been getting emails for a few weeks already from people looking for Holiday info. So, as much as I'd like to put it off, we've been busting out the Holiday posts earlier than ever so all you early planners can be prepared...and now our Holiday Guide is up, filled with everything you need to know to soak up the Holiday magic in New York City.

Halloween Portraits From Stomping Ground Photography and More Party Pics

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 11/02/2010 - 7:10am

The portraits Stomping Ground Photography took at our Halloween party are now posted on their website and they are awesome. They really captured the spirit of all the kids in their Halloween costumes. Check out the slideshow they put together with some of the highlights, plus some more photos we took of the party.

If your child had their portrait taken, we also have info on how to order your prints below:

Halloween Round Up: What to do with Leftover Halloween Candy, Our Halloween Slideshow and the Rally for Sanity

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 4:50am

Halloween's Over, although the sugar buzz may still be lingering. I hope you had a really fun day (or several days, more likely). We went trick or treating and snapped some pictures of kids around the neighborhood with really creative costumes. I also have some tips on how your kids can sell their Halloween candy or donate it to a good cause. Lastly, I wanted to share some poignant images from another silly event this weekend, Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity.

Virtual Halloween Party: Enter to win a Spooky Gift Basket from Scholastic Store

Submitted by Anna Fader on Wed, 10/27/2010 - 5:32am

We had our Halloween Party yesterday and it was a ton of fun. Hot, crowded, but lots of fun. I could not have asked for better partners. I was so pleased with the excellent quality of everything from everyone who participated, including all our little guests who came in fabulous costumes.

The only thing I wish had been different is that we could have had more people come. As it was, the space was pretty tight. In order to share the fun with everyone, whether you could make it or not, we're doing a Virtual Halloween Party on facebook where you can enter to win one of two fabulous spooky gift baskets from Scholastic.

Find out how to enter to enter and see some of the party pictures below.