Sweenor’s Chocolates

Moonie was kind of bummed there weren’t chocolates on his pillow (it was his first hotel experience and he’d imagined all kinds of luxuries the Airport Sleep Inn just can’t provide), and I was hungry, so we had a little 3 a.m. snack a few hours ago. Here you go, Moonie, chocolate on the pillow. Just don’t actually smear it on there.

Sweenors

The candy is from Sweenor’s, a Rhode Island company started more than 50 years ago by a schoolteacher looking to make extra money during World War II. The company is still run by Mr. Sweenor’s family today, and this particular candy bar was sold to raise funds for the Special Olympics. Great cause, great chocolate, and happy Moonie.

Moonie & MDB & Moonie’s Celebrity Sighting

One of the acts Moonie traveled all the way to NH to see actually lives right in Rhode Island: Marc Douglas Berardo. His set at Tupelo Music Hall was amazing last night and well worth the drive. Moonie and I approached him for a photo after, during which Moonie appears to have farted in MDB’s face.

MDB

A woman standing nearby suddenly asked, “Is that Moonie?” It was his first recognition, and don’t worry, the fame only swelled his head a little. Given that it was already disproportionately large to his body, it’s all the room it had to swell.

It turned out that Mary had just discovered Moonie’s Facebook Page and was a fan of his antics. Obviously I had to capture his first official fan, so Mary jumped into the next photo with MDB.

Adorableness immediately ensued.

MDB and Mary

Tupelo Music Hall

Last night we headed up to NH to the famed Tupelo Music Hall for a fantastic double-header by Marc Douglas Berardo and the The Pousette-Dart Band. Both were fantastic, as was the location, but an announcement was made in the very beginning that photography of the artists during the show wouldn’t be permitted. “It’s OK,” I told the amused couple beside me as I snapped a couple pre-show pics of a proudly posing Moonie. “I got the important shots.”

Tupelo1

Tupelo2
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Piano Man

Moonie and I stopped at a restaurant/bar called Whippersnappers in Derry, NH to grab a quick sandwich on our way to a show.

The pianist, whom I noticed slipped some White Stripes and Green Day and Whitesnake songs into his 70s and 80s easy listening repertoire, was pleased to meet Moonie and let him pop onto the piano during his performance. They seemed to get along awfully well, especially during Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” (one of Moonie’s faves).

piano man

I love how seriously they’re looking at each other here.

Pool

Moonie has never been in a pool. Unfortunately, the hotel’s pool closed at 10:00 tonight, which I’m trying to explain to Moonie was almost three hours ago. His rationale is that they kept the lights on for him to visit.

pool

He swears he’s just dipping in his toes. I hope so. His nudity is probably some kind of health hazard.

Hotel

Moonie and I are staying in New Hampshire tonight. It’s his first time in a hotel and he’s a little gleeful.

hotel

Uh oh, his amber eyes just gleamed.

I think I’m gonna have to keep an eye on the mini fridge.

Moonie & Ellie’s Bakery

A few years ago, Ellie’s Bakery opened in Providence, diagonally across the street from where I was then working.

This made me very, very happy.

I don’t work nearby anymore, but I’ll stop in for occasional treats and sandwiches. I credit Ellie’s with being the first place to introduce me to frozen macarons (they make non-frozen, “regular” macarons as well). For frozen ones, they start with the little round and often brightly colored meringue-like cookie outsides, but instead of filling them with buttercream or ganache, they fill them with ice cream. This results in the smallest, cutest, and most delicious ice cream sandwiches you’ll ever see, and Ellie’s peddles them from a special little cart on warm days.

Ellies 2

Now that it’s finally warm again, Ellie’s tell-tale cart appeared at a recent Cinco de Mayo celebration. Moonie enjoyed his introduction to Ellie’s frozen macarons, which in honor of the occasion came in dulce de leche and Mexican spiced chocolate flavor options.

Ellies 1

Moonie was so excited, he couldn’t even stand up. He just wanted to lie there with his frozen macarons.

Whereas I just wanted to eat them.

Suite Tart

Moonie had a wonderful time popping into Suite Tart, one of the coolest salons in Providence. “Team Tart” members have been amazing at glamming me up with hair and makeup in the past, and today it was Moonie’s turn.

Suite Tart proprietor LuLu Locks set Moonie up in his own little vintage pint-size high chair under a vintage hair dryer. She even found the perfect little book for him to identify with!

Suite Tart

That got me thinking: which look does Moonie wear best?
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