Providence Honk Fest | moonieandme

PRONK! PRONK! PRONK! PRONK! PRONK!

Posted on October 14, 2015 by annierhodeisland

At last, Moonie’s favorite day in the whole wide world was here. It was time for PRONK!

He’d been up all Sunday night making himself a PRONK headpiece, but he’d gotten carried away and forgot how little he was. He looked a little silly trying to balance it on his tiny head, so he made himself a PRONK sign to carry instead and ordered me to wear his headpiece. Yes, sir!

Off we went to Burnside Park for music and merriment!

Ooh, the PRONK sign. Moonie approached it with reverence. A beam of light shone down on him as he posed for a photo, approving of his pronkiness.

Missing Moonie

Posted on October 14, 2015 by annierhodeisland

Oh no. Oh, friends. The worst thing has happened.
Moonie is lost.

ERB Shirt for Pronk!

Posted on October 11, 2015 by annierhodeisland

When we last saw our hero Moonie, he had run out of time to make a Pronk! costume because he’d dedicated Saturday afternoon to making a Planned Parenthood banner for Pronk!.

So you’d think he’d be a little sad, but he wasn’t.

Then I came upon this scene this morning.

“Uh, Moonie? Where’d that envelope come from? And what are you wearing? And who do we know in Thailand? And since when do they deliver mail on Sundays?”

He only gave me that mysterious little smile in return, reminding me that trolls have just a little bit of magic about them.

Then he held up the teeniest little shirt and said he’d be right back.

And, only about 20 minutes later, he emerged from his little troll studio decked out as Extraordinary Rendition Band’s biggest fan.

Pronk! Readiness, Level 5

Posted on October 10, 2015 by annierhodeisland

New Urban Arts is an awesome program in Providence where artists mentor city youth, encouraging them as emerging artists in a safe spot and even helping with homework. But today NUA was a hive of mostly grown-ups as hordes of volunteers, activists, individuals and families attended NUA’s open studios for Pronk! preparations. Those crowds included, of course, our own Moonie.

His new friend Beth from NUA took Moonie aside and gave him two choices. He could make himself something fun to wear at Pronk! – a costume, a crown, a sign, a mask, a cape, whatever he wanted – OR he could help the other volunteers make something for Pronk! for the greater good.

I could see him thinking hard. He so loves the idea of dressing up in a funky little costume to celebrate a festival he’s looked forward to for weeks. But he likes helping people even more, so he chose the second option.

Not that he didn’t have a little fun poking around New Urban Arts’ giant studio while Beth and I gathered materials in the basement. He found all kinds of artwork to hug.

And he seemed to have gotten a bit stuck while exploring the loom.

Help Pronk!

Posted on October 5, 2015 by annierhodeisland

Remember Moonie’s pre-Pronk! song? He’s been working on it for weeks now. It’s become a 40-minute opus that he says cannot be performed without the backing of an entire philharmonic orchestra plus at least one kazoo. And whoever taught him the word “badonkadonk” will be pleased to know that he’s worked that phrase into at least 65 of the verses “because they rhyme with Pronk!”

And with just a little ol’ week to go until Providence Honk Fest, Moonie is more excited than ever. Pronk! is a special day that draws talented musicians from all around the world to perform for individuals and families – and it’s all free. Moonie cannot wait for this 8-hour-long festival of music and merriment, from the initial parade to the last celebratory note. The “cacophonous street celebration” extols everything except Columbus Day (it is specifically NOT a Columbus Day parade). Moonie cannot wait for the colors and energy and joy and glitter – everything he loves in one bright shiny package.

But there’s one hitch. All those musicians and artists and activists and the hundreds if not thousands of people coming out to enjoy them create a need for permits and safety details and toilets and feeding/housing people who have traveled many miles to entertain Rhode Islanders for zero compensation – which costs money. And as Pronk! charges no admission, that money needs to come from generous folks like you.

Moonie and I were proud donors to Pronk!’s annual Kickstarter campaign, which had him puffing out his little pink tuft, but we’re both a little sad that there are only 22 other backers so far. That’s an awful low number for the amount of merrymaking that will brighten everyone’s afternoon and night next Monday. The goal of $2200 is very reasonable for the amazing day Pronk! stages, but they’re only 1/3 to that goal with just a week to go. Many hundreds of people will benefit from Pronk! next Monday. Moonie thinks it would be awesome if each of them gave a dollar or two. What do you say?

(You can’t hear it, but Moonie is making the most endearing little puppy whining noises just for you.)