ENTERTAINMENT INSIDER Backstage with The Arcada Theatre's Ron Onesti "Baby It's Cold Outside," but here's how to stay warm! With this sub-zero lovely weather, it came to mind about how many times have we sat on our couches looking outside into our snow-peaked yards and stayed home from work as Chi- town-area temps hit sixty-below- zero with the wind chill. pies off and he proceeded to sit on my feet! To this day, my feet have never felt as warm as they did on that day! Just ANOTH- ER reason to miss my dad. We finally got home, and we put on the radio while my mom was getting dinner on the table. Her beef stew was our Winter go-to favorite, and the best cure for our cold insides. I can still see those tasty chunks of beef, big slices of soft carrots and celery in that huge cast iron pot with black soot around the bottom. Ninety per cent of people all stayed home that day. My daughter's school was closed... even online! But even then, I am sure there is some internet attention seeker half-naked div- ing into Lake Michigan some- where! When did we get so scared of the cold? I can remember a snowstorm in the late 1960s and EVERYBODY was outside! There is a picture of me some- where as a five-year-old bundled up looking like the "Michelin- Man" top of a snow mountain made by the city snow plows. I have my arm around the "Taylor St. and Western Ave." street signs on a light pole! We had a ball sliding down those hills on metal garbage can lids! On a heavy snow day that season, it was me and my dad in our '64 Chevy Impala com- ing home from a long day at his tailor shop. As we began to exit Western Avenue off the Eisenhower Expressway, we ran out of gas! With all the snow, traffic was so backed up, it took us an extra two hours to get home! That may have been the only time I heard my dad say "damn"! A bunch of people were also running out of gas. A police- man came over and said some- body would be by with gas cans to clean up the mess. So we waited. And waited. And waited some more. It's not like we had cell phones at the time! I started to get really cold. My little five-year-old feet were freezing. My dad said, "take your shoes off." I though he was crazy! But I did as he said. I reluctantly took my Hush Pup- Tel Chak O The AM radio was playing, and that Italian "King of Cool" Dean Martin came on. It was one of my Dad's favorites, "Baby It's Cold Outside", anoth- er one of those swagger-esque, songs that added to the warmth of the room, and my dad trying to make his voice sound like a combination of Sinatra's swank and Bing's "Buh bub boooo". These days, for "inner" warmth, I play my vinyl records on an old phonograph. For old time's sake, I keep a Dean or his daughter Deana's record. nearby. But then I will throw on any of the early CHICAGO albums, from "Chicago Transit Authority" through the choco- late candy wrapped "CHICAGO X". Then, "Endless Summer" by The Beach Boys, which MUST be followed by the group's "Pet Sounds". Add a heaping helping of Pink Floyd, a dash of Electric Light Orchestra, a pinch of The Presented by Onesti Entertainment Temptations, some AMERICA "Greatest Hits", and a taste of early Beatles, and the warmth flows through my veins. Having homemade soup, hot chocolate, S'mores and mom's meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy while in flannel jam- mies is as good as the warming process gets. If we can figure out how to jar all that together, SOMEONE would get rich quick! Add to that the music of our lives as the warm blanket that covers it all and you can be in Alaska on its worse night and you would still be toasty warm! I hope to see you soon at The Arcada Theatre or The Des Plaines Theatre as we host over five hundred of your favorite leg- endary bands in a toasty, comfy environment. Let us bring to you the warmth of the music of your life. The light is definitely visible at the end of that tunnel! I feel it! Or maybe it just the warmth of that stew I had last night... ARCADA (97) YEARS If you enjoy reading this feature, please let me know! I want to see who is out there! Check out the ever-changing, incredible lineup at the historic Arcada Theatre by calling 630.962.7000 or at www.oshows.com ENTERTAINMENT INSIDER Backstage with The Arcada Theatre's Ron Onesti " Baby It's Cold Outside , " but here's how to stay warm ! With this sub - zero lovely weather , it came to mind about how many times have we sat on our couches looking outside into our snow - peaked yards and stayed home from work as Chi town - area temps hit sixty - below zero with the wind chill . pies off and he proceeded to sit on my feet ! To this day , my feet have never felt as warm as they did on that day ! Just ANOTH ER reason to miss my dad . We finally got home , and we put on the radio while my mom was getting dinner on the table . Her beef stew was our Winter go - to favorite , and the best cure for our cold insides . I can still see those tasty chunks of beef , big slices of soft carrots and celery in that huge cast iron pot with black soot around the bottom . Ninety per cent of people all stayed home that day . My daughter's school was closed ... even online ! But even then , I am sure there is some internet attention seeker half - naked div ing into Lake Michigan some where ! When did we get so scared of the cold ? I can remember a snowstorm in the late 1960s and EVERYBODY was outside ! There is a picture of me some where as a five - year - old bundled up looking like the " Michelin Man " top of a snow mountain made by the city snow plows . I have my arm around the " Taylor St. and Western Ave. " street signs on a light pole ! We had a ball sliding down those hills on metal garbage can lids ! On a heavy snow day that season , it was me and my dad in our '64 Chevy Impala com ing home from a long day at his tailor shop . As we began to exit Western Avenue off the Eisenhower Expressway , we ran out of gas ! With all the snow , traffic was so backed up , it took us an extra two hours to get home ! That may have been the only time I heard my dad say " damn " ! A bunch of people were also running out of gas . A police man came over and said some body would be by with gas cans to clean up the mess . So we waited . And waited . And waited some more . It's not like we had cell phones at the time ! I started to get really cold . My little five - year - old feet were freezing . My dad said , " take your shoes off . " I though he was crazy ! But I did as he said . I reluctantly took my Hush Pup Tel Chak O The AM radio was playing , and that Italian " King of Cool " Dean Martin came on . It was one of my Dad's favorites , " Baby It's Cold Outside " , anoth er one of those swagger - esque , songs that added to the warmth of the room , and my dad trying to make his voice sound like a combination of Sinatra's swank and Bing's " Buh bub boooo " . These days , for " inner " warmth , I play my vinyl records on an old phonograph . For old time's sake , I keep a Dean or his daughter Deana's record . nearby . But then I will throw on any of the early CHICAGO albums , from " Chicago Transit Authority " through the choco late candy wrapped " CHICAGO X " . Then , " Endless Summer " by The Beach Boys , which MUST be followed by the group's " Pet Sounds " . Add a heaping helping of Pink Floyd , a dash of Electric Light Orchestra , a pinch of The Presented by Onesti Entertainment Temptations , some AMERICA " Greatest Hits " , and a taste of early Beatles , and the warmth flows through my veins . Having homemade soup , hot chocolate , S'mores and mom's meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy while in flannel jam mies is as good as the warming process gets . If we can figure out how to jar all that together , SOMEONE would get rich quick ! Add to that the music of our lives as the warm blanket that covers it all and you can be in Alaska on its worse night and you would still be toasty warm ! I hope to see you soon at The Arcada Theatre or The Des Plaines Theatre as we host over five hundred of your favorite leg endary bands in a toasty , comfy environment . Let us bring to you the warmth of the music of your life . The light is definitely visible at the end of that tunnel ! I feel it ! Or maybe it just the warmth of that stew I had last night ... ARCADA ( 97 ) YEARS If you enjoy reading this feature , please let me know ! I want to see who is out there ! Check out the ever - changing , incredible lineup at the historic Arcada Theatre by calling 630.962.7000 or at www.oshows.com