Ron's Bio
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Onesti Dinner Club
Ron Onesti is president and founder of St. Charles, Illinois - based Onesti Entertainment Corporation (OEC), which specializes in corporate events, high-end foodservice, beverage and hospitality operations, concerts and festivals all over the United States. Leveraging his industrious three decades in the entertainment industry, he is also the recipient of three National Academy of Arts and Science's Emmy awards for his work in television, the prestigious, Congressionally recognized Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and countless other accolades for civic contributions and professional accomplishments. His writing on cultural topics has been published in more than 100 articles, and he, along with his younger brother Rich, produced and hosted an entertainment-based talk show on FM radio in Chicago.
Educated at DePaul University in Chicago, Onesti's entrepreneurialism spurred in his early years with his first venture, a promotional advertising company. He progressed by forming a public relations agency, various retail and foodservice operations and since 1996 - an event production and management firm, with OEC. A former semi-professional baseball player, Onesti has a competitive business acumen that led to a staggering 300% growth rate of Onesti Entertainment's enterprises from 2006-2009. Today, he is the creative powerhouse that leads an organization of one hundred to produce, create and manage events across the country. In addition, Onesti has shaped the lives of hundreds of children through coaching, as well as mentoring, along with his philanthropic contributions. His frequent travels to Italy contribute to his international connections and contemporary perspective on entertainment experiences.
Under his direction, Onesti Entertainment Corporation produces up to 200 events - concerts, special events and festivals - nationwide. In the Chicago area, Festa Pasta Vino on South Oakley Avenue, Taylor Street Festa Italiana and West Suburban Festa Italiana in Addison, are all annual traditions began by Onesti to showcase ethnic pride, community involvement, and celebrity entertainment, and have become some of the most popular Chicagoland events of the summer.
In 2001, Onesti was one of a committee of five individuals responsible for developing and building the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, a $20 million gem located in the heart of Chicago's Little Italy on Taylor Street. He was specifically responsible for designing the exhibits, supervising interior construction and generally formulating the building plan as an entertainment facility.
In 2005, Onesti restored The Arcada Theatre, an 888-seat Vaudeville theatre in St. Charles. Onesti has received numerous civic awards for his vision and personal investment exceeding $250,000 to restore it to its original splendor. He continues to welcome iconic performers including Jerry Lewis, Mickey Rooney, Wayne Newton, and Neil Sedaka as well as stars Rick Springfield, Martin Short, Bret Michaels and Dionne Warwick to the Arcada stage. Acknowledging Onesti's staying power, the City of St. Charles joined him in committing more than $92,000 to restore the theatre's marquee, as a representation of the pulse of the downtown dining and entertainment scene.
In 2008, Onesti purchased the restaurant operations of 18 North, a prominent St. Charles restaurant housed in a former church. The nationally recognized landmark, built in 1851 of locally quarried limestone, thrived as Onesti Italian Steakhouse & Supper Club, a three-floor, two bar, fine dining restaurant, through January 16, 2011 . As an upscale Italian gastronomic experience offering authentic family recipes from Tuscany and live entertainment set in a 1940s supper club atmosphere, the venue was a coveted choice for weddings, corporate events and holiday occasions.
A frequent contributor to regional and national broadcast media programs, Onesti is a highly sought entertainment consultant who has shaped and built the careers of dozens of entertainers. Celebrity endorsements from those who work with Onesti for his accountability, solid business practices and drive for perfection include Frankie Valli, Danny Aiello, Joe Mantegna, Dan Marino ... the list goes on and on.
Ron,
Thanks again for the amazing seats and the meeting with Jon. I'm a constant concert go'er... I've never seen a venue owner with more passion and love for his job than you. Please keep me informed of upcoming shows at your venue. If I can ever do anything for you please give me a call any time.
Thanks again,
Gary
ONESTI DINNER CLUB SAYS GOODBYE
ST. CHARLES, IL - January 18, 2011 -
To our dear friends,
So many great things have been happening to Onesti Entertainment! New renovations at The Arcada Theatre including a digital marquee and the booking of high end acts like KC & The Sunshine Band, Martin Short, The BoDeans, America, Bret Michaels and KANSAS have opened the door for many other major entertainers to grace the classic stage at the Arcada in 2011. Recently, SHOWTIME bought the rights to a television special we produced called, "The Godfathers of Comedy." It was shot at The Arcada, and airs January 29 on SHOWTIME and SHOWTIME HD. This is leading to a massive national tour (Blue Collar Comedy Tour style) that I will be heavily involved in. The demand for me personally from corporate and private sectors to produce VIP experiences and special events is through the roof, our Italian Festivals have come to be some of the most popular in Chicago, and I am even talking with a network (I cannot say) about a possible show of my own!
We have weathered the storm of the most trying time in our 25 year history. The Onesti Dinner Club became an extension of me, my culture and my experiences. I am proud of what my team accomplished there. We created memories for so many people, great nights of entertainment, weddings, baptisms, anniversaries, proposals, fashion shows, extraordinary meals, martinis and a very unique ambience. The countless orders of our slow-roasted prime rib, Taylor Street sausage & peppers, prosciutto wrapped scallops, Nonna's eggplant, key lime pie, pumpkin pie martinis, etc., etc.
Our Rat Pack nights, The Flat Cats, Diva Montell, Jeorge Holmes, Jack Miuccio, Tony Ocean, Brock & Abrams, Motown Nights, The Drifters, and so many entertainers who made it memorable.
...And of course, the powerful voice of our resident rock star, everybody's favorite...Johnny Maggio.
Dinners with Deana Martin, Mickey Rooney, Martin Short, The Jersey Boys, Connie Francis, Neil Sedaka, Rick Springfield, The BoDeans, The Lettermen, Chazz Palminteri, Davy Jones...and countless other celebs.
But just like the most popular musical in history, Jersey Boys, it has to come to an end. With all that is happening I will find it impossible to deliver the high quality product my customers are used to. This has been one of the hardest decisions I have had to make, but The Onesti Dinner Club is now closed. This is necessary for me to get to the next level in my career. With the travel involved with the television projects I am working on wrapped in with all the other things going on, the restaurant was sure to suffer. I could not do that to an establishment that I have come to love, something we built from the ground up. And I could not do that to you, my most valued customer.
This decision comes with great pain, but no regret. I cherish every single memory I have from ODC, and equally cherish the friends who have become family in the interim. I can only smile when I think of those countless yet unique situations of people having the times of their lives. It will be you, my good friends, whom I will miss the most.
Many restaurants closed because of the economic climate. Ironically, we have experienced just the opposite. Most weekends you couldn't get in our place , even in these difficult times. We are going out on our terms, on top. I would rather go out like Elway with a Superbowl ring, rather than Favre, beaten and battered.
I also want to thank my devoted staff who worked tirelessly to provide a product to be proud of. Everybody from the kitchen to the bar to dining room to the coat check to the valet were top of the line.
Jennifer Sherman, we all thank you (and Brooke) for your dedication and countless hours you put in just to make it easier for everyone else. Your unselfishness, professionalism and sincere concern for every single person involved did not go unnoticed.
Aubrey, Romi, Brendan, Mike, Sal, Tina, Heather, Allysson, Joe, Michelle, Ino, Tony, Red, Tyler, Jeremy, Stick & Molly...
I am sincerely proud of all of you.
I will still be around at the theatre. Who knows, I may show up doing an "O Night" at one of the country clubs or local restaurants once a month.
Regardless, I sincerely want to thank you for allowing one of my dreams to become a reality. You have honored me with your patronage and I have been blessed with your friendship. Please stay in touch as I plan on doing so with you! If you have some pictures of your night(s) at Onesti's, please send them to me. If you have a story about your experience by us, I would love to hear it!
So on behalf of me, my wife Elena, our daughter Giuliana, my brother Rich, my sister Vickie, and the entire Onesti family,
Grazie e Ciao! See you at The Arcada and our upcoming festivals!
Ron Onesti
JAMES BROWN SAXOPHONIST
MACEO PARKER SET FOR FEB. 11 CONCERT AT ARCADA THEATRE
Pioneer of Funk Will Perform at 8 p.m.
in downtown St. Charles
Maceo Parker, a pioneer of funk, and saxophonist for the legendary James Brown, will perform Feb. 11 at Arcada Theatre.
ST. CHARLES, IL - January 10, 2011 - The name Maceo Parker is synonymous with funky music, and to many, his band is the tightest little funk orchestra in the world.
On Friday, February 11, Parker - who has performed and/or recorded with Ray Charles, James Taylor, the Dave Matthews Band and the Red Hot Chili Peppers - will bring his rhythm and blues, hip-hop, and jazz resonations to the Arcada Theatre in downtown St. Charles. The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets start at $29.
Ron Onesti, owner of the Arcada Theatre, said the saxophonist is iconic in R&B circles.
"This will definitely be one of those shows we have at the Arcada that people won't believe came to St. Charles. It's almost impossible to separate which came first, Maceo or the funk," Onesti said. "His signature style as a tenor saxophonist grew to define James Brown's brand of funk for almost two decades. It's easy to see - and hear - why Maceo Parker is recognized as one of the early pioneers of modern funk and hop-hop."
A North Carolina native, Parker grew up admiring saxophonists such as David "Fathead" Newman, Hank Crawford, Cannonball Adderley and King Curtis.
"I was crazy about Ray Charles and all his band, and of course particularly the horn players," he said.
Parker was discovered by the legendary James Brown in the 1960s. For the past sixteen years, he has focused on building a new funk empire, fresh and stylistically diverse, which he describes as a navigation between James Brown's 1960's soul and George Clinton's 1970's freaky funk, with an exploration of mellower jazz and the grooves of hip-hop.
Since 1999, Parker has participated in some of Prince's groundbreaking tours. In 2003, after several years as band leader for the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Awards, Parker received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation for his contribution as a sideman to the genre of R & B. Parker's albums Funk Overload , Dial M-A-C-E-O and Made by Maceo entered the top 40 in the European charts upon release.
Tickets start at only $29 for the February 11 show at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main Street, St. Charles are available online at www.oshows.com, or via telephone, at (630) 962-7000. Group discounts are available.
Built in 1926 by Lester J. Norris, the Arcada became known as one of the outstanding vaudeville houses in the Chicago area.. Iconic stars to have graced the stage include George Burns and Gracie Allen, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, The Little Rascals, Duke Ellington and so many other legendary stars. In May of 2005, new life embraced the Arcada Theatre when Onesti Entertainment Corporation assumed ownership of theatre operations. As a producer of diverse and grand-scale entertainment experiences nationwide, OEC brought "Big City" shows to the western suburbs of Chicago. Toward that goal, more than $200,000 in renovations have included a new digital marquee, new dressing rooms, heating and cooling systems, paint, and upgrades to the sound system, lighting, stage and rest rooms. Mickey Rooney, Bret Michaels, Rick Springfield, Jerry Lewis and Martin Short are among recent headliners.
