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

How Many Calories in a NYC Kid's Halloween Haul?

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 11/03/2008 - 6:18am

The trick or treating was more fun than ever this year. It seemed like everyone really went all out to make it great for the kids. By the next morning, however, I sat with a Halloween Hangover staring at those piles of candy with disgust and wondering what the net impact of that much sugar could be. That's when I decided to count all the calories contained in my children's Halloween hauls, piece by piece, prompting my ever-so-helpful husband to tell our children, "See, kids, math can ruin the fun in anything."

So, here's my obsessive compulsive tally of a NYC kids' Halloween Trick or Treat bag, the good, the bad and the gooey.

Happy Halloween

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 10/31/2008 - 3:42pm

From Three Eyed Martian and Amelia Earhart

NYC is Monsterous: Monster Itineraries for NYC Kids

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 4:08pm

On Halloween , the monsters take over the streets of NYC, but New York is always full of monsters, if you know where to look for them. We've put together some cool ideas for finding monsters in NYC with kids. Perfect for a Halloween weekend outing or monstrously fun any time.

Three New Ice Skating Rinks in NYC This Year

Submitted by Anna Fader on Wed, 10/29/2008 - 4:49am

Picture 7.png

The South Street Seaport and American Natural History Museum rinks have closed..

There seems to be an explosion of new ice skating rinks in NYC this year. Last week we reported that the American Museum of Natural History is opening a new ice skating rink in November and now we've heard of two more new rinks opening this winter.

Free Skiing for Fourth and Fifth Graders near New York City

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 10/28/2008 - 4:48am

Picture 6.png After some pretty bad years for skiing, they say it's going to snow a lot this year. If it's true I'll feel pretty lucky to get a good ski year when my daughter is in fourth grade. Why? Because fourth graders get to ski for free. New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Vermont all have free ski programs for fourth, and sometimes fifth, graders and you can apply to all of them.

Click on the links below for applications and more information, but the basic deal is that you apply for a ski free passport and you will receive a booklet of 3 passes per participating ski resort that allow your child to ski free when accompanied by a paying adult. The applications cost between $10 and $19, or in the case of New Hampshire, they require a little school project about NH skiing history. The passbooks also usually include one free lesson also.

Best Halloween Fun Tips and Links on the Web

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 10/27/2008 - 6:59am

It sure is a world wide web out there. So much good stuff. We've rounded up our best finds for fun and helpful tips for parents from all over the internets. Below find, decorating and costume ideas, how to make your halloween greener, your jack o'lantern spookier, and tons of other tips.

Free Fun Friday: Rain Dates and Indoor Halloween Weekend Events

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 10/25/2008 - 5:48am

I know that the Washington Market Park Halloween Parade and Party has been postponed from Saturday and will now be on Sunday, October 26 from 3-5pm. Also The Fort Greene Park Halloween Festival and the Halloween Festival at Fort Trotten Park (both of which sound like lots of fun) will both be postponed to Sunday. Please try to call ahead to any events you might be going to on Saturday and make sure it wasn't canceled or postponed.

But don't let the rain dampen your Halloween Weekend spirit. Here are our picks for indoor activities for Saturday, October 25th, 2008. Click on the links below for more information about each event.

Ice Skating Coming to the Museum of Natural History

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 10/23/2008 - 8:20pm

AMNH_CS-03 Hallway - Arnold Imaging 2008.jpg

There may be less and less ice at the North Pole for polar bears to skate on, but Manhattan's getting a new ice skating rink this winter. This year, for the first time in 140 years, The American Museum of Natural History will be opening its skating rink. Opening on Saturday, November 22nd, 2008, here's what the press release says: