Big band sounds and swing dancing is coming to the Hilton Short Hills.
The Millburn-Short Hills Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Big Band Extravaganza on March 12 starting at 6:30 p.m. for $79. The event is a fund-raiser for the chamber.
John Nobile's Summer Swing Orchestra will be the highlight of the event, which also will feature swing dance demonstrations and lessons. There will be a buffet dinner and a live auction. There's also plans for a wine tasting by Gary's Wine and Marketplace in Bedminster. Tickets are $79.
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Shayne Miller, chamber vice president, said it'll be a great event and the cost is a value for the dinner and entertainment.
Most of the chamber's efforts are focused on the fund-raiser, but there are plans for other events, including the possibility of a restaurant week. Other communities, including Maplewood, hold a restaurant week that highlight the other eateries.
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Miller said the plans are in the preliminary phase and are under the umbrella of the Millburn-Short Hills Business Coalition, which is a joint chamber of Downtown Millburn organization. Planners will be sending an electronic survey to local restaurants about what types of events and deals they would be interested in participating. Among them are free sidewalk tastings at lunch, a paid dinner tasting, gifts and prizes and deals on meals.
Other events in the works for the chamber this year:
- March 27—Annual Egg Hunt
- April 18—Annual Street Fair
- June 21—The President's Cup Race
- Oct. 3—Annual Art Fair
The chamber also is moving forward with the redesign of its Web site, being completed by Mark Mitchell of Design Deluxe. Miller said the current site is old, stale and outdated. It's mainly text now.
The new site will be more interactive with slideshows and video. The video would include clips from Chamber Chat episodes on Hometowne Television.
Miller said when people travel they go to the local chamber Web site to find restaurants, events and other activities during their visit. Millburn-Short Hills is a tourist destination because of the Paper Mill Playhouse and the Mall at Short Hills, he said, so having a better Web site will be a benefit.
Chamber Update is a regular feature highlighting the events and activities of the Millburn-Short Hills Chamber of Commerce.
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