More Than 500 Register for Girls Night Out

Clearly, girls just wanna have fun.

With only a day left before Downtown Millburn’s first-ever Girls Night Out, more than 80 retail establishments are primping for the event that is expected to attract hundreds of shoppers to downtown during a time of day when stores are usually closed.

Registration began early for Girls Night Out and more than 500 shoppers have already registered. And since proceeds from donations and mystery bags will go to support causes such as education and hurricane recovery, the numbers are a relief for those putting on the event.

“I’m surprised. I’ve never seen anything like it," said Lisa Hackett, the newly appointed executive director of the Downtown Millburn Development Alliance. “The RSVPs continue to flood our inbox. I’m excited that so many people are looking forward to participating in this event.”

Shoppers – female and male – can expect to find the stores open from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursday with lots of prizes and giveaways.

“People keep asking me ‘What does it cost to come to come to this event?’” Hackett said. “We have that much stuff going on -- six wine tastings, a vodka tasting, sushi tasting, eyebrow tinting. The stores are really getting into it and having their own activities.”

In addition, actor Andrew Shue, who grew up in South Orange and is most famous for his role in Melrose Place, will be on hand, as will celebrity stylist Robert Verdi and Miss New Jersey Teen USA Savannah Schechter.

“Those celebrities are also generating some excitement on their fan pages,” Hackett said.

Downtown Millburn recommends pre-registration, which is free, for the evening of shopping, dining and socializing at www.downtownmillburn.org.

Pre-registered participants will be eligible for one of two exceptional raffle gifts: a pair of designer sunglasses donated by Eye Q Opticians, valued at $250, and a $150 gift certificate for at the Hilton Short Hills.

All registered GNO participants must check in and pick up registration cards and GNO gift bags in front of the , or at the rain location inside Pierre Deux on the corner of Millburn Avenue and Main Street.  Participants can donate to the Downtown Millburn and the Education Foundation of Millburn-Short Hills at registration check-in.

Mystery gift bags, which contain certificates for valuable merchandise or services, will be sold for $10 each, the proceeds of which will support both the and the Downtown Millburn Hurricane Relief Fund. Certificate values range from $25 to $500, and are redeemable at participating retailers and restaurants.

Participants whose registration cards are validated by at least five GNO retailers are eligible for valuable raffle prizes, with Mayor Sandra Haimoff announcing the first winner at 9:15 p.m.

The 13 major raffle gifts include a $3,000 fur from , a $1,300 AMEX travel package plan from Avenue Travel and a $1,000 black diamond 24K gold necklace from Jhanna Fine Jewelry.

In addition, many shops will hold their own drawings or raffles, including , which will give away an original piece of art valued at $2,000 and Sawhorse Designs, which will hold an in-store drawing for an iPad, a professional make-over and skin care treatments.

To see the celebrities, catch them at these locations: Verdi will be at Deborah Gilbert Smith giving fashion and style tips. Shue is scheduled to spend time at the mom.com information table between 5 and 7 p.m., and will then an in-store appearance at Seed 387. Miss New Jersey Teen USA Savannah Schechter will appear at Jia sometime during the evening.

Many retailers will serve wine and cheese or other refreshments and offering sales, in-store drawing for gift cards or merchandise and free items such as dessert, champagne, sushi and cupcakes.

Many retailers and restaurants are offering specials, sales or prix-fixe menus – check before ordering. Some stores are also donating their proceeds to charities, including:

• Bedazzled, wine and hors d’oeuvres in-store. Proceeds from this night will go to Make-a-Wish Foundation
• , Mother-Daughter night. A percentage of all GNO proceeds will benefit . Mocktinis and snacks will be served.
• , besides the special visit by actor Andrew Shue after 7 p.m., 10 percent of GNO proceeds will benefit .

 Others are offering classes or pampering shoppers, including these:

• will host a panel discussion "Designing a Life of Style," 5 to 6 p.m., stop-in workshops for makeup retouching, wardrobe advice and wine tasting.
• will have free 10-minute chair massages, spray tan demonstrations and endermologie service descriptions
• will give away coupons for a free hearing test and $250 off a future purchase of hearing aids.
• Millburn will hold a photo book class from 6:45 to 7:30 p.m. and a "How to Use Your Digital Camera" class from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., (maximum of 12 students per class.)
• Millburn-Short Hills will have 15-minute self-defense demonstrations at 5:15 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., demonstration attendees are eligible for $70 gift card in-store drawing
• will offer complimentary eyebrow waxing and tinting by Michelle.

A DJ will be rocking Main Street, between Millburn Avenue and Essex Street, with dance tunes and not too faraway at the corner of Millburn Avenue and Wittingham Terrace, the Chatham Brass Quintet will perform. And the band Waffle House, sponsored by Seed 387, will perform in front that store on Millburn Avenue.

Those who don’t want the night to end can head over to to see an exclusive GNO screening of Breakfast at Tiffany’s starring Audrey Hepburn at 10 p.m. The $12 admission price includes theater ticket, bag of popcorn and soda, as well as a drawing for a blu-ray copy of Breakfast at Tiffany’s

A list of the sponsors for the evening and the content and value of the mystery bags will be available at the GNO registration table or on the Downtown Millburn Facebook page at "Events in Downtown Millburn."

This is the first time downtown Millburn has hosted such an event, but based on the early response, it won’t be the last, Hackett said.

“People are already calling us to participate next year and asking us what the date is,” she said. “We don’t have a date yet. But we should by next week.”