Anna Fader

Founder of Mommy Poppins

A fourth-generation Brooklynite, Anna started Mommy Poppins in 2007 to help families find the best things to do with kids in NYC, with a particular emphasis on sharing activities that are free, affordable, and enriching. The site, used by millions of families, has grown to become the ultimate resource for parents in the major US cities, plus travel guides for 100s of destinations.

Anna is a believer in the magic of summer camps, traveling with kids, and that you can raise kids on a budget and still have a rich life full of amazing memories. Anna's first Mommy Poppins book, The Young Traveler's Journal and Activity Book, published in 2025 and co-written with her daughter, Amelia Eigerman, brings that ethos to life, in addition to this website.

Latest posts by Anna

Do a Little Back to School Shopping for NYC's Homeless Children

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 08/19/2008 - 6:04am

One of the great joys for me of working on this site has been the ability to help other people. Typically that means helping people figure out what to do this weekend or giving them some useful bit of information or other. But this summer I had the opportunity to do something even more profound when I was contacted by Jennie Velazquez of Seneca House.

There are over 15,000 homeless children in New York City and Seneca Houses provides temporary housing for over 100 of them. This summer I worked with Jennie and her Executive Director Maritza Alvarez at Seneca House to help fill these children's summer with the types of wonderful activities that my own children take for granted (Thank you to The Children's Museum of Manhattan, Splish Splash Water Park and others for donating their admissions).

Now that summer is winding down, these kids face a new challenge. While we are all doing our back to school shopping for crisp new school supplies, the children of Seneca House have nothing.

Cool Messenger Bags for Girls and Boys

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 08/14/2008 - 1:23am

Get with the program, Oldie Square Pants, backpacks are for babies. Cool kids today carry messenger bags. But finding cool messenger bags that fit pint-sized hipsters is not so easy, so we scoured the net for the coolest little messenger bags for our mini trendsetters and have gathered them here for you (after clearing them through our own pint-sized coolness testing dept., of course.)

Cool girls want stuff that's not too flowery, but definitely not boyish either like this Little Miss Sunshine Messenger Bag. It's on the large side at 12" x 15" so it's better for older kids, but at $19.99 from Target or Amazon, it fits the bill perfectly.

Free Fun Friday: Family Events that are fun for Mom and Dad too

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 7:49am

We all know you secretly sing along to Laurie Berkner, but that doesn't mean you don't occasionally enjoy real grown up entertainment. This week our family friendly activities really are fun for the whole family, focusing on stuff that the grown ups will enjoy for themselves, but we think cool NYC kids will love too.

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. What a great way to set the stage and introduce your kids to Chinese culture and the Olympics! This weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, enjoy two days of dragon dances, martial arts performances, and arts and crafts tent including Chinese calligraphy, rice doll making, paper cutting and other crafts. Plus of course the dragon boat races!

Here's the perfect family event, in my book:

Reader Tip: Free Outdoor Movies at Waterside Plaza

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 6:34am

Reader, Bess, from Brooklyn gave us the heads up about yet another place to enjoy free family friendly outdoor movies this summer—Waterside Plaza. Waterside Plaza is the apartment complex/community east of the FDR in the 20s. It can be reached by the 25th Street footbridge over the highway or by taxi or bus at 23rd St.

In August there will be a series of movies, music and dancing on the plaza with views of the East River.

Movies are Monday nights at 8:30. Free popcorn and beverages are available. There is limited seating. You should bring your own folding chairs or blankets. Here's the line-up of free family friendly films:

Cool Mom Picks of the Month: The Best Gear, Toys and Accessories for Moms and Kids

Submitted by Anna Fader on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 5:57am

I'm not a big "stuff" person, but when I do want to ogle, buy or dream about buying kid stuff, I turn to the site Cool Mom Picks where some super savvy moms select the most unique little things for babies, kids and moms. That's why I'm thrilled to announce that Cool Mom Picks is coming to Mommy Poppins. Check out what the girls have found for us this month:

Now your little monsters can make their own big monsters.

Four Excellent Summer Outings for NYC Kids

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 8:42am

Mommy Poppins reader, Jodi Call, like many NYC parents, is sticking close to home this summer, but that doesn't mean she's not having a blast. With Mommy Poppins, and her friend Kara, as her guides, she's been on a quest with her son, Roan, to make this summer the Best Summer of His Life. (No pressure or anything.)

Lucky for us, she's reported back, sharing four of her best days so far this summer. Read on to hear about some of the great adventures they've been having, what's worked, what she will know better next time, and where the bathrooms were along the way. [Thanks, Jodi!]

Got a tip or suggestion you want to share? Send it in!.

Linkin B'Logs: Hot Air Balloon Rides, Burned Babies and New Kinds of Fun in New York City Parks

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 07/28/2008 - 7:10am

This week's hot tips and important stories for parents, so you can be the most-in-the-knowiest.

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the original design of Central Park, you can take a hot air balloon ride to 30 feet above the park. The price is $25 per person, sounds worth it for a once in a life-time opportunity.

The Bush years are dwindling down and that makes me very happy because it means...JibJab is on the case again with funny new political cartoons like their Time for Some Campaignin video. [via Roosevelt Islander]

Time reports that nearly 90% of foods marketed to kids do not meet basic nutritional standards of food. Check out their list of 9 "healthy" kid foods that really aren't. Goldfish are number two on the list because of the amount of sodium. [via GoodyBlog]

More links and our Exit Cuckoo giveaway winner after the jump.

Free Fun Friday: Water and Art Everywhere

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 9:15am

Lots of cool stuff going on this weekend and you don't have to look any further than our events calendar to find our picks. This weekend we've picked out more events that let NYC kids experience two of New York's most precious natural resources, the water, and the artists, all around us.

Starting with City of Water at Governor's Island, this fun day for kids will have a boat parade, fishing clinics, live music and more.

Seining (a fancy word for catching fish by net) at Brooklyn Bridge Park gives kids an opportunity to see that there really is all kinds of creatures living in the waters right here.

At Socrates Sculpture Garden this week kids can create their own anime stop-motion movie.

Anna Fader

Latest posts by Anna

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