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

A favorite book now a movie: Cornelia Funke's Inkheart

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 01/19/2009 - 6:59am

In third grade something amazing happened. All of a sudden my daughter graduated from reading books that seemed to be written for the sole purpose of teaching kids to read, and started reading some really good children's literature. Some of her favorite books this year have been from the Inkheart series: Inkheart, Inkspell and Inkdeath, by Cornelia Funke.

Inkheart, is a fantasy fiction story about a girl whose father has the ability to read people in to and out of books which obviously goes all wrong and sets them off on an adventure of a lifetime. As my daughter puts it, "It's scary enough that you want to keep reading to the next chapter, but not so scary you have nightmares." But, what she loves most about these books was that the stories are all about books, with lots of clever references to other favorite books.

Inkheart is a child booklover's book that keeps its readers engrossed for the full 560 pages and on through the next books, which are just as long.

They have just made a movie out of Inkheart which will be in theaters on Friday, January 23, 2009. I hope it's good otherwise there are going to be a lot of very disappointed Inkheart fans.

Top Craft and Indoor Activities Websites for Toddlers and Kids

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 01/17/2009 - 5:45am

An editor from another kids parenting publication (I'm not going to out him/her) emailed me that s/he had no idea what they were going to do with their kids for a three day weekend of subzero weather. If she is stumped, then the rest of us are totally SCREWED! But seriously, here are some of my favorite websites for inspiration for indoor activities and things to do on a rainy, or freezing cold, day. These are mostly smaller blogs, written by moms with really sweet activity ideas. Check out these sites, browse through the archives, click on their blogrolls to find other great related sites. (Hey at least you'll be occupied all weekend.)

Top 5 Craft and Indoor Activity Websites:

Free Play January 18 and 19: Lunar New Year celebrations, Treehouse Shakers, Inflatable Sculpture, more

Submitted by Anna Fader on Fri, 01/16/2009 - 3:45pm

The weather is going to suck this weekend so start strategizing now. Stay in? Or try one of these fun events? You may also want to check our Indoor Activity Guide for additional indoor ideas. Here's the best of this weekend, including a very cool and fun art exhibit tonight only in Williamsburg.

Mint: Zipcar competitor offers $2 car rental

Submitted by Anna Fader on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 8:30am

If you've been reading this blog for a long time, you know about my love of ZipCar, the car sharing service that lets you rent a car in New York City by the hour. While ZipCar has been adding more cars and locations, there's a new competitor on the road, Mint.

Just like ZipCar, Mint offers car rental on demand and by the hour. Gas and EZ Pass are included. Even the rates are identical, except for an introductory promotional offer that allows you to rent a Mint car for just $2 an hour Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 5pm.

Barack Obama Inauguration Activities for Kids

Submitted by Anna Fader on Wed, 01/14/2009 - 7:21am

If you are excited about the historic inauguration of our 44th President, Barack Obama, and you are a parent, you may also feel a little bit of pressure over how exactly to get your kids involved in this event in an age-appropriate way. Yesterday I posted where you can watch the Inauguration live, but there are also several events tailored just for kids to celebrate Obama's inauguration in New York City. I've also included some inauguration activity ideas and must read books.

[Baby got Barack T-Shirt from shoptoughcookies.com]

Places to Watch the Obama Presidential Inauguration Live in NYC

Submitted by Anna Fader on Tue, 01/13/2009 - 8:03am

Taking the kids to DC doesn't seem like such a great idea, what with the crowds, the temperatures, not to mention the stroller ban. But that doesn't mean you have to miss the opportunity to be part of Barack Obama's historic Presidential Inauguration live event. There are places all over the city to watch the Inauguration in a group setting so you get that live experience, but with heat and subway access.

Seaport Ice Finally Open

Submitted by Anna Fader on Mon, 01/12/2009 - 11:07am

Word spread fast to downtown families about the ice skating rink at the South Street Seaport finally opening up. When we went on Sunday afternoon, it was already comfortably crowded. The rink is fairly small, and the pavilion is not as nice as the one at Bryant Park, but with a predominantly downtown family crowd and no speeding teenagers, it was a great place for kids to ice skate.

Dunkin' Donuts Giving Out Free MetroCards

Submitted by Anna Fader on Sat, 01/10/2009 - 7:41pm

Dunkin' Donuts is trying be buyin' your business with free MetroCards. For the next 4 Mondays, they will be handing New Yorkers their morning commute at a different station each week.

Between 6:30 and 9:30 am look for your free Dunkin' Donuts metrocard at these subway stations:

Anna Fader

Latest posts by Anna

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