Catch a movie, get a good book or get out of town

Catch a movie, get a good book or get out of town

JAKARTA (JP): If you go down to the mall today, you are sure
to be in for a big surprise. It's either going to be a case of
the capital's huddled masses thronging together in avid
preparation for the new millennium (which some of us thought
actually came at the stroke of midnight on this date last year),
or deathly quiet as people stay indoors lest they end up being
caught in the political horror play of a few twisted minds.

Brave the two terrors, and you may be able to while away the
morning and afternoon with a coffee or a good book instead of
sitting cooped up in front of the goggle box.

Better Brews: Coffee Club, Plaza Senayan, First Floor (tel.
573-0910/Open as usual on Sunday and Monday). Stunning variety of
coffees from around the world (including ratings of their
respective body, acidity, etc.), plus a selection of Asian and
international food. Pleasant staff; find a table by the back
window and linger over a magazine at your leisure.

Segafredo, Plaza Indonesia, First Floor, (tel. 315-0279/Open
as usual on Sunday and Monday). Winning rave reviews among coffee
lovers for its genuine brew (no watered down or warmed over
variety here) and inviting location in a corner of the swank
mall. Try it for yourself.

Celluloid Feast: What's playing at local theaters? Find out
from the Studio 21 bilingual hot line (tel. 319-02121). Keep in
mind, however, these are the holidays and everything is more
subject to change than usual.

102 Dalmatians. The sequel, with Glenn Close in such high-camp
form that she could teach the regulars at Taman Lawang a thing or
two. Senayan 21, Pondok Indah, Sunter 21 (1 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:30
p.m., 7:45 p.m.). Blok M 21, Puri 21, Citra 21, Gading 21 (1:45
p.m., 4 p.m., 6:15 p.m., 8:30 p.m.). Hollywood KC (2:15 p.m.,
4:55 p.m., 7:05 p.m., 9:15 p.m.)

Asterix and Obelix. Our little heroes battle the might of the
Romans. Ooh la la. Puri 21, Blok M 21, Citra 21, Bintaro 21 (1
p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m.). Senayan 21, Anggrek 21,
Pondok Indah (1:45 p.m., 4 p.m., 6:15 p.m., 8:30 p.m.). TIM 21
(2:15 p.m., 4:55 p.m., 7:05 p.m., 9:15 p.m.) Hollywood KC (2:55
p.m., 5:35 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 9:55 p.m.).

Joshua Oh Joshua. Now, none of you sarcastic scalliwags say
the country's favorite pint-sized entertainer is jumping on the
Sherina bandwagon by starring in his own little cinematic
vehicle. Senayan 21, Anggrek 21, Pondok Indah, Gading 21 (1 p.m.,
3:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m.). Sunter 21, Bintaro 21 (1:45
p.m., 4 p.m., 6:15 p.m., 8:30 p.m.).

The Grinch. Jim Carrey, the greatest comic talent since Buster
Keaton, or a right royal ham who does the same thing over and
over again in each and every role? You be the judge as Carrey, in
a phenomenal makeup job, tries his hand at the famous Dr. Seuss
work. Puri 21, Gading 21 (1 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:45
p.m.). Senayan 21, Pondok Indah, Blok M 21, Sunter 21 (1:45 p.m.,
4 p.m., 6:15 p.m., 8:30 p.m.). Hollywood KC (2:15 p.m., 4:55
p.m., 7:05 p.m., 9:15 p.m.).

Charlie's Angels. A new trio of angels arrives on the big
screen, with a grateful nod to Jacquelyn, Cheryl, Farrah and
Kate. Now it's Lucy Liu, Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz showing
their muscles and moves in this tongue-in-cheek action yarn. Puri
21, Pondok Indah (1 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m.). Blok
M 21 (1:45 p.m., 4 p.m., 6:15 p.m., 8:30 p.m.).

Read Up: Want to treat yourself to a good book this New Year?

QB Books, Plaza Senayan 3rd Floor (tel. 572-5267) Open 10 a.m.
- 6:30 p.m. Sunday and 12 p.m. - 9:15 p.m. New Year's Day. This,
and the main store on Jl. Sabang, are really something for
Jakarta's book lovers sadly accustomed to getting titles three
years after the first print. Everything you want, from management
tomes to gossip-filled celebrity hatchet jobs (they also have a
special discount rack). Recently expanded to take over the small
VCD shop at the corner.

Seeing Stars: Hotels, except for the beleaguered Shangri-La,
will be hoping to count the profits on Sunday night. The big
players include the Grand Hyatt Jakarta (tel. 390-1234) with the
country's reigning songstress Krisdayanti giving heart and soul
in a glittering performance It will set you back Rp 1.5 million
each (including dinner) at the Fountain Lounge. Everyone on their
best behavior, please, so no requests for the "Hemaviton" theme
song or cracks about the perils of the pop princess standing too
close to the bright lights (plastic melts, you see).

Smooth as silk and just as alluring, The Temptations are at
the Mulia Hotel Senayan (tel. 574-7777), also for Rp 1.5 million
a ticket, with dinner, in the ballroom. Alas, ticket reservations
closed on Saturday, but you may still be able to wheedle your way
in.

Cheaper by far is the entertainment at Tiga Puluh at Le
Meridien (tel. 251-3131). It's Rp 170,000 ++ in a 1970s' theme
party to welcome 2001 (!). There is a New Year's countdown party
with a big band, featuring Tjut Nyak Deviana, at the Regent
Jakarta lobby for Rp 150,000 net, including a margarita (tel.
252-3456). Or you can always get your dancing shoes on for the
Black and White Ballroom Dancing Show at Hotel Borobudur Jakarta
(tel. 380-5555). Tango, salsa and rhumba into the wee hours for
Rp 1 million.

Head West: Want out of Jakarta for just one day and figure you
could use the money which would otherwise go to one of the New
Year's Eve bashes? Close at hand, but a world away for your
sanity, is Bandung, with a new flight service by Deraya. For Rp
189,000 you arrive in the West Java capital in a cool 30 minutes.
There are flights at 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from Jakarta,
leaving from the old air base of Halim Perdanakusuma, East
Jakarta. Yes, it's a small plane but the flight attendant is
pleasant, you get a little snack box and no need to worry whether
the railway line has received any maintenance since, oh, 1930.
For more information, call Deraya at 80899505 or 392298 (brc).