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)