Establishments seek permits for X-mas festivities

Establishments seek permits for X-mas festivities

JAKARTA (JP): Almost 200 entertainment centers have requested
permits for Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations, a city
public order official said Wednesday.

Entertainment sites should have permits for entertainment,
opening hours, distribution of door prizes, and for hiring
foreign artists, Toha Reno, the head of the office's
entertainment division said.

"There will be raids to make sure they (entertainment centers)
have permits for their celebrations," Toha said.

Out of the 191 permits given, 79 were to entertainment centers
in Central Jakarta, 26 in North Jakarta, 49 in West Jakarta, 35
in South Jakarta and two in East Jakarta.

Last year, 49 permits were issued for Christmas celebration
and 339 permits for New Year's Eve celebrations.

Christmas and New Year's Eve function organizers must pay Rp
50,000 when applying for permits. Ticket prices must be within
the city's set limits for New Year Eve's celebrations.

The highest prices allowed are Rp 750,000 (US$319) for four
and five-star hotels and the Jakarta Convention Center, Rp
250,000 for discotheques, Rp 200,000 for restaurants and Rp
75,000 for cinemas.

The city collected more than Rp 1 billion from last year's
celebrations.

Hotels have geared up for the celebrations and are offering
various programs, including food fiestas and entertainment.

The Ancol Travelodge Hotel in North Jakarta will turn into
"Hollywood" on New Year's Eve, with film sets and a life-size
golden Oscar.

"In the best Hollywood tradition, it will be Lights! Camera!
Action! on New Year's Eve," said the hotel's Food and Beverage
manager, Evan Lewis. Tickets are Rp 120,000 (US$51) per person.

California cuisine will compliment impersonations of Tina
Turner, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.

At the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, there will be a New Year's Eve
dinner with prices ranging from Rp 89,000 to Rp 250,000 per
person.

The Mandarin will also hold a party called "Motown, back to
the 70s" for Rp 120,000, which includes rewards for guests who
show up in 1970s clothing like halter neck tops or body shirts.

The Ambhara Hotel in South Jakarta will offer a Mediterranean
setting, international cuisine and Latin music by Sonido de Los
Andes, a band from Chile, for Rp 250,000.

In West Jakarta, the Hotel Ciputra Jakarta, with its "Ring out
the Old, Ring in the New", claims it will feature music from all
over the world. Dangdut music and rock'n'roll will accompany a
New Year's Eve dinner for Rp 128,000.

The Acacia Hotel in Central Jakarta will have live music by
groups called the Ananda Group and Enny Rompis' Wild Dancers, for
Rp 75,000 per person. A hotel representative said "surprises"
would be included.

The "Black and White Nite" celebration in the Le Meridien
Hotel's ballroom will have entertainment by singers Diana and
Rita Nasution, a fashion show and the Survival Band, which
specializes in 1960s songs. Tickets are Rp 750,000 per person.

In the Sahid Jaya Hotel lobby there will be a disco party
called "Flirting with the Future", organized by KIS-FM radio
station, for Rp 90,000.

Several bands will play at the "Stroke of Midnight"
celebrations at the Jakarta Hilton International Hotel. The
rates, excluding room charges, range from Rp 38,000 to Rp 250,000
per person.

The Sari Pan Pacific has "New Year's Eve in Outer Space" and
the Shangri-La will perform "Rock to the 50's with the Grease
Theme".

A Hawaii-like setting will dominate the Dai-Ichi Hotel's
ballroom with its "Aloha 1996", which will include hula dances
and the Royal Hawaiian Band. "Morgan's 1072 Classic Disco" at the
hotel offers live music from the 1970s and 1980s. The rates range
from Rp 23,000 to Rp 300,000. (ste)