Shangri-La's B.A.T.S. is back, oh boy

JAKARTA (JP): The recent labor woes of Shangri-La have been well documented, taking a bit of the shine off this would-be utopia in Jakarta. Well, the hotel recently reopened, with a few new employees, and is now looking to get back into the hotel business after focusing so much of its energies on busting up worker rallies.

With the reopening of the hotel, of course, B.A.T.S. has made its return to the nightlife scene. B.A.T.S. liked to claim to be the number one entertainment venue in Jakarta before it was so rudely interrupted, and it would like to regain this self- appointed title, though it will have to work hard to get back its clientele who slipped off to Retro and C.J.'s in its absence.

So is The Bar at the Shangri-La back like a bat out of hell, or has the whole scene passed it by during its time away? Have a look.

Location: B.A.T.S. is in the Shangri-La on Jl. Sudirman. You can call the hotel at 570-7440, or e-mail them at slj@shangri- la.com.

Hours: The bar is open from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day. Happy hour is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The band plays from Monday to Thursday 9:30 p.m. onward. Friday and Saturday the band starts at 10 p.m. Sundays are jazz nights with the Ireng Maulana All-Stars, who take the stage at 8 p.m.

What's it got: The usual collection of beers and spirits. They also serve what they call all-American food, though I have never had the pleasure of dining at B.A.T.S. so the subject is beyond my ken; or my Barbie for that matter.

Bill, please: Paradise comes at a price. To even get past the gates will cost you Rp 60,000. It had crossed my mind they would have done away with the cover charge for a time, a show of good faith to get back the customers, but they apparently chose not to go in that direction.

Once you have paid your way in, the drinks are typically priced for bars and clubs located in upscale hotels. A Corona is Rp 50,000, Jose Cuervo the same. Something called a V6 is Rp 38,000, though I don't know what it is or what it's doing on my bill. But hey, it's hard to train new staff.

Here's looking at you: B.A.T.S. has a little bar upstairs and some tables and chairs arranged around a TV. The area is near the front door and hidden away from the hubbub. To get to the action you descend a large staircase, feeling a bit like Miss Scarlett, minus the corset. Downstairs is a large bar in the middle of the room, with seating all around, a dining area off to the side, a stage for the band and a smallish dance floor. Your typical decor for a hotel club, playing it safe and mainstream. The whole look is remarkably unremarkable and recalling details is difficult.

So, what's your sign: Not to cast aspersions on the typical B.A.T.S. patron, but when the band banged out its cover of Jennifer Lopez's Love Don't Cost a Thing it struck a rather ironical note. Yes, B.A.T.S. has its share of fat, white, middle- aged men and pretty young Indonesian women. But that is not the entirety of the clientele, and there is a mix of young Indonesians out with their friends, couples, people who came to dance and those who came to drink. There are all types and everyone seems to feel comfortable here, except for the type that likes good music and a little conversation.

Odds and ends: B.A.T.S. is crowded, particularly on a Saturday night. Movement can be restricted and if you're particular about your personal space you're likely to work yourself into an apoplectic fit as the boors elbow past you.

The band at B.A.T.S. is Crave. Everyone in the band is cute as a button and they frolic about the stage as they run through their takes on the latest offerings from Ricky, Britney and Jennifer. It is hard to differentiate Crave from any of the other bands that have come through B.A.T.S. in the past, which makes one wonder if there is a factory somewhere manufacturing cover bands for all the bars located in upscale hotels around the world. But the people seem to like Crave, just like they liked the previous bands that played here, which makes one wonder about people.

Or, if you're up for a little introspection, it makes you wonder about yourself, and why you can't enjoy the simple fun and pleasure offered by these energetic cover bands. Crave takes a rest on Sunday and B.A.T.S. offers up a little jazz. The change is drastic. It's not overly crowded, you can sit and talk, enjoy the music. A pleasant way to spend a Sunday evening as you prepare to face another week of work. The only drawback is you don't get the eye candy of a Saturday night.

Last call: B.A.T.S. was slightly less crowded than it was before it went away for a while, and the band wrapped things up a little earlier than in the past. But the place has returned without missing a beat. It is very good at what it does and if this is your idea of a good time out, B.A.T.S. is still the place to be. (Penn Dawson)