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Catching up with Arcada Theatre's Ron Onesti

t hasn't been difficult to keep tabs on what Ron Onesti has done to convert the Arcada Theatre into a national entertainment icon, while also setting the stage for expanding what the downtown St. Charles site offers. But it has been about 10 years since I sat down with Onesti to discuss his vision for the old vaudeville theater. A few people have mentioned they fear the right opportunity might cause him to walk away from the Arcada and St. Charles someday. Not likely, he says. "The Arcada is like this - with the five kids in my family, we used to ask our grandmother who she liked the most," Onesti said. "She would hold up her hand and ask, which finger do you like the most?" In a similar vein, Onesti said the Arcada is "a part of me" and as long as the theater is in operation "it is part of my life and part of my blood." That blood is about to get a transfusion of sorts, as Onesti is already at work with the building owners to lay out plans for theater operations to expand. There are plans to move into the vacant retail spot to the east in the former George's Sports location, and to the west, where the Gordy's Quick Mart & Cafe just closed. Years ago, Onesti walked actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg through that site to the west side - after Starbucks had moved and before Gordy's tried its ill-fated concept - showing it as a potential location for a Wahlburgers restaurant. It was too small for that, and Donnie worked out a deal with St. Charles for a west-side site near Meijer. It fulfilled his dream of having a restaurant in what is now his hometown. But now that open spot will help the Arcada offer some new space. In the end, the lobby at the Arcada maybe won't seem so tight because everything related to current and upcoming shows won't have to take place in that hallway. "The Arcada has become a national icon," Onesti said. "If I can be so bold, its name is getting thrown in there with the Fillmore Easts of the world." For certain types of acts, such as oldies bands or heavy metal, it has become a destination for the artists. "When they come to the Chicago area, we are one of the first theaters to come out of their mouths," Onesti added. He has no connection with the riverboat casino in Elgin or the theater at Pheasant Run any longer. But Onesti is plenty busy with the Wild West Town in Union, a theater and speak-easy in Evanston, the Little Italy Fest-West in Addison, and various other events. We shouldn't forget he also donates his time to be master of ceremonies or provide food at numerous charitable events throughout the Tri-Cities. "You have to have music and an entertainment venue and historic ambience to add to a restaurant setting, and it's a formula that seems to be working," Onesti said, referring to the Club Arcada Speakeasy above the theater. "Pretty soon, we will be taking over the whole first floor of the properties next to the theater and incorporating it all into some new experiences," he said. "It will really make the Arcada building and downtown St. Charles, an entertainment destination.

Creative signs:

Decorative, inspirational wood signs are fairly common in our homes and businesses. So much so, that Board & Brush Creative Studio is founded on the premise that some people would like to learn how to make these signs on their own.

They'll have that chance locally, as Katie and Mike Ilic are opening their second Board & Brush location, this one at 303 N. Fourth St., Suite C, St. Charles. Their other site is in Oswego.

Those who are handy, and even those who are not, would likely benefit from one of the do-it-yourself workshops at Board & Brush.

The studio is hosting its grand opening from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. Those who attend will see a vast array of different types of signs in addition to other festivities.

The timing seems good for a place like this to open. The studio is planning "Make and Take" workshops featuring Halloween designs during the Scarecrow Festival Oct. 11-13 in St. Charles.

And the owners expect Christmas themed signs to be popular in the coming months. They also plan to allow local charities to conduct fundraising events through workshops at the studio.

For information, contact the studio at (630) 797-9123 or visit boardandbrush.com/stcharles/.

Books for a year:

Small, independent bookstores in the Tri-Cities area remain enjoyable places to visit and support.

Harvey's Tales in Geneva definitely falls into that category. Owners Chuck and Roxanne Osborne have operated the bookstore at 216 James St. for a year now.

The store honors the late Harvey, a Bernese mountain dog that the family had for about 10 years. It should be mentioned that the Osborne family now has Hazel, also a Bernese mountain dog that would be closing in on about 2 years old now.

But back to the store. It will celebrate its anniversary from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, by featuring many local authors who have had books for sale in the store.

Anyone who hasn't taken the time to visit Harvey's Tales might want to add it to the "to-do" list.

That eerie sound:

We knew large fans are used to cool down the air-conditioning units and condensers in the parking garage along First Street in downtown St. Charles, but we didn't know what kind of noise unfolded when they kicked on during warmer weather.

We walk around downtown St. Charles on weekend mornings quite often, but on this particular Sunday morning, there was a whining sound as if a city siren was having a hard time kicking on.

It was coming out of the parking garage, it turns out. It sounded like something out of "War of the Worlds."

But no one sitting outside along First Street seemed to mind. They must be used to it.

For the mattresses:

In a retail strip along Randall Road in Geneva, Mattress Firm closed shop and the storefront sat empty for more than a year.

We noticed a new occupant is taking over the spot, across Randall from the Ross store and next to the Walter E. Smithe furniture store.

It is going to be … Ta-da! … another mattress company. This one is called Mattress Inc.

You know the retail credo. Once a mattress retail location, always a mattress retail location.

Never heard that one? Me neither. I just made it up. But it seems to fit.

dheun@sbcglobal.net

Arcada Theatre owner Ron Onesti
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