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

Fun-a-Go-Go Giveaway Winner

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 7:21pm

Thanks to everyone who commented on our Fun-a-Go-Go giveaway post. It sounds like most of you have terrific plans to get out of the city for this vacation break. But me and Naomi are going to be chillin' here in the city.

They Might Be Giants wrote my theme song

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 2:53pm

They Might be Giants' just put out a new album of kids music and while I've been a little underwhelmed with their previous albums, this one has at least one new song that is truly brilliant. In fact, I'm making it my official theme song. Check out this awesome video podcast of my new theme song that Mr. Nice Guy was nice enough to find for us.

Best New York City Candy Stores for Kids of All Ages

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sun, 02/10/2008 - 7:35pm

For a little Valentines' Day fun, we thought we'd check out the best candy stores in NYC for kids of all ages. With a gaggle of hyper children, we've been trooping all over Manhattan sampling treats and discovering what's what in the New York candy world. (It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.)

We taped the whole thing and will be posting the short videos over the next several days. Take a look at the first one we've posted today for some sugar-addled fun. Perhaps you'll be inspired to make a Valentine's Day outing with your little sweeties.

TADA! Another great Winter Vacation Camp

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 2:43pm

I think drama classes are great for kids. They help build creativity, confidence and teamwork. And TADA! has a great theater program for New York kids. In addition to their regular afterschool programs, TADA! offers one-week vacation programs in which children rehearse and act out a musical production created just for kids. At the end of the week they get to perform it on stage.

Free Fun Friday: Weekend Activities for 2/08/08

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 1:55am

A round-up of all things free and fun for this weekend. Where to hear rockin' tunes, make a beautiful valentine, and play in the snow!?! All for kids and all for free!

Upcoming NYC Summer Camp Open Houses

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 12:52am

Summer camp registration is heating up. Here's three interesting open houses for parents looking for New York City summer day camps.

Giveaway: Fun-a-go-go Makes Eating Out Fun-a-gain

Submitted by Anna Fader on Wed, 02/06/2008 - 5:18pm

Last week we posted about Drop and Dine, a fabulous new way to enjoy dinner out at a restaurant together/alone with your toddler or child. Today we've got another great solution for eating out with kids??”Fun-a-Go-Go??”and we're giving away whole party pack of them.

Fun-a-Go-Go is a deceptively simple solution for entertaining children in a restaurant. It's just a small folio with a dry erase board and marker that clips on so it never gets lost. The kit has dozens of game and activity ideas printed on it to keep your little one entertained through even the longest restaurant meal. There's even more ideas posted on their website, or you can make up your own.

Recommended for children ages 3 and up, I think Fun-a-Go-Go is great. I love the simplicity of it, the way it allows you to interact with your children to get them set up in games that they can then continue on their own, allowing you to eat and talk.