PEABODY — It’s not too late to put on your best flapper dress or fedora, kick up your heels to the Charleston,1920s style, and maybe even knock back a Bee’s Knees cocktail or two.
Thanks to some clever creativity on the part of the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC), which had to cancel its traditional November annual dinner because of the pandemic, the Chamber has come up with plan B — a virtual Roaring ’20s night celebration and fundraiser.
The event will be held from 7-9 p.m. Thursday at The Eatery, the newly-opened food court at the upscale Mills58 office complex on Pulaski Street in Peabody. It will be televised live from 7-9 p.m. on Peabody Access Television on channel 99 and will also be live-streamed on Facebook.
“We are so excited about this event as we have had great interest,” said incoming Chamber Executive Beth Amico. “It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t hold our traditional dinner, but I think this event will be just as much fun for everyone.”
Expected guests include Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt and Citizens Inn Executive Director Corey Jackson, who will be formally announced as the new chairman of the PACC’s Board of Directors.
“Corey is one of those community members who is in all things non-profit,” said outgoing Chamber Executive Director Julie Daigle. “He will be a very strategic addition to our board.”
Also in attendance will be outgoing chair Teresa Reade, Mills58 owner Ed Greeley, Daigle, Programs Director Maria Terris and Amico.
Tim Brown, director of innovation and strategy at Northeast Arc, will be on hand as celebrity bartender to share his tips on how to mix a killer Bee’s Knees cocktail, a gin sour drink popularized during Prohibition and believed to have been invented at the Ritz Hotel’s Cafe Parisian in Paris in 1921. The drink, a slang term “the best,” is said to have used honey and lemon to mask the harsh smell of illegal bathtub gin.
“It was really funny as when we were trying to decide on a person who would be well-known in the community and help draw people into the event, we decided to ask Tim and he immediately knew what a Bee’s Knees cocktail was, so it ended up being perfect,” said Daigle.
There are numerous raffle prizes that will be given away including a YMCA membership donated by the Torigian Family YMCA. Other raffle items included a Samsung tablet, donated by Land Computer; a bottle of fine champagne and $100 Vinum Wine Shop gift card, donated by the PACC board of directors; a Kappy’s Fine Wine and Spirits gift basket, compliments of Kappy’s; a bottle of wine with a $100 Kappy’s gift card, donated by the PACC board of directors; a John Hardy sterling silver cuff bracelet, donated by Long’s Jewelers; a luxurious spa day, donated by CC Salon; an imported olive oil gift basket, donated by Patrida Imports; a date night basket, donated by the Amico family; an In the Game gift card; a gift bag including a four pack of Jonah craft beer, branded face mask and beer bones dog treats donated by Essex County Brewing Company, and a gift bag for Breaking Grounds, Shine Jewelry and Parcels Boutique, donated by Northeast Arc.
Raffle tickets will be pulled the night of the event and may be purchased on the chamber’s website, https://business.peabodychamber.com/. Tickets are $20 each or three for $50.
Several levels of sponsorship are still available. Event sponsors included Great Gatsby sponsor Community Credit Union; Speakeasy sponsors Citizens Inn, Salem Five and North Shore Bank; Bee’s Knees sponsors Land Computer.com, MRG Construction Management, Inc. and ServePro; Flapper sponsors Elite Pest Solutions, Inc., Keller Williams Realty, Peabody Wealth Advisors, Bishop Fenwick High School, Essex County Brewing Company and the YMCA of Metro North; Rumrunners sponsors Atlantic Ambulance Services, Evans Flowers, Reade Law Firm, PC and Rousselot, and Diamond sponsors
For more information on attending the event, purchasing raffle tickets or becoming a sponsor, visit https://business.peabodychamber.com/ or call (978) 531-0384.
