Weekly Reports on Pattaya activities, Dec 19, 1999

Dr. Allen R. Briggs


 

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WEEKLY REPORT FROM PATTAYA FOR DEC. 19, 1999

Summary:

  • Snow in Boyztown for Holidays? Mystery continues, unconfirmed
  • Maps “Shortcut” lacked essential letter; my apologies
  • Friend Creates two web sites about Thailand
  • “Thai Guys” Magazine Features Icon Expansion Plans Discussion
  • Macho Handsome Boy Contest at Crazy Pub succeeds
  • Le Cafe Royale’s Holiday Plans; dinners, shows, boat cruise, etc.
  • Icon’s Plans for Holidays; Special Dinners, Jungle costumes
  • Boys Zone Pub and Disco supposedly about to open on Soi V C
  • Studio Group’s Plans announced; restaurant partially open
  • Splash apparently nears opening; December, ’99 still touted

SNOW IN BOYZ TOWN? MYSTERY CONTINUES. .. BBB HAD SNOW LAST YEAR, SHOULD HAVE AGAIN THIS YEAR, REPORTS SAY .. BUT NO CONFIRMATION YET

Boyz Boyz Boyz did have snow for the holiday season in the 1998 Christmas-New Year’s season, and rumors are strong they will again, but there is no confirmation. They have the machines, the ability, but no announcement as yet. I guess “ANTICIPATION” — suspense– is sometimes better than promotion.

We have confirmation that Boys Boys Boys (the z’s hadn’t replaced the s’s as of last holiday season) did have five snow machines installed for Christmas last year, “four of which worked and created a most unusual and spectacular (for Thailand) effect that was greatly enjoyed by all in the Soi and by the scores that came from nearby to see it. We are told that the number of machines and their capacity to disperse ‘snow’ (frozen soap bubbles?) is to be increased this year”, but still no announcement or publicity. The suspense builds. “SNOW IN PATTAYA”? When? How much?

MAPS “SHORTCUT” INCOMPLETE AS PROVIDED LAST WEEK; NEEDS FULL FOUR LETTER “HTML” ON END TO SUCCEED

www.serv.net/~idaho/maps.html/ is the correct URL for the “shortcut” to Pattayagay.com’s maps of the Pattaya area. In the Weekly Report last week, my comments failed to include the “l” at the end. My apologies. All maps can still be accessed direct through the web site, www.pattayagay.com . There you just click on maps, then click on the “go” button, and you arrive at the map site kept so fully up to date by our map expert! Again this week, with changes mentioned later in the map of Sunee Plaza, the map is up to date even before this column is published! Great work.

FRIEND CREATES TWO WEB SITES OF INTEREST

A friend who recently spent quite a bit of time in Thailand, but only a couple of days in Pattaya, has now created two separate web sites using Yahoo’s facilities. Our friend advises as follows: “Well, it took quite awhile, but I have posted quite a few pix to two different pages within Yahoo. For the photos of the Patong Beach Pride Festival (at Phuket), the URL is http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bpak_wan For my general Thailand holiday photos, the URL is http://briefcase.yahoo.com/pschultze Worth checking out, but I could find nothing on Pattaya.

Maybe next time, when our friend has more time in Pattaya, he’ll find something interesting here, also. He also points out that “Dreaded Ned has a link to the Patong Beach website which has a lot more photos of the parade. But I did get some decent shots of the preparations for the parade as well, I think. As you will be able to tell, the boys from the bars were having a great time. The crowd did, too.” Dreaded Ned’s pages can be found at www.dreadedned.com Another site, http://www.beachpatong.com/gaypatong/photogallery/index.htm which has about 150 photos of the parade, plus photos of many other pride festival events, is also available.

THAI GUYS MAGAZINE ISSUE #2 FEATURES ICON DEVELOPMENTS AND PLANS

:Thai Guys” magazine, Issue 2, December-January, still available for free distribution, contains a fascinating article on Icon Boutique Hotel, its owners, Icon the Club, and plans for expansion even more substantial than those we have earlier outlined. Not only Bangkok and Phuket, but Chiang Mai, too, are planned developments, with financing now available through additional financial backings, the magazine reports. Hotels and clubs are apparently planned “soon”. The magazine says an Icon Club will be opened in Bangkok before the end of December, but that seems highly unlikely at this stage! The Phuket and Chiang Mai operations will follow after a Bangkok hotel is also in operation.

The article also points out that Icon is going into merchandising, now, and this is confirmed by a note on each table at Icon–the Club, last night indicating that merchandise items would be available at Icon Boutique Hotel “Asia”, Icon the Club, and Icon the Shop. William, one of the owners, advises it will also be available over the Icon’s web site, www.iconhotel.com in the near future. “Thai Guys” says that “A new underwear collection under the name “Icon for the Boutique Man” has already been taken by two major US outlets and two Thai/Taiwanese and will be on sale in Robinson’s outlets and other small, men’s clothing boutiques, and over the web, before the year end.” I had noticed that the Icons have occasionally worn shorts recently with the Icon name on them, and it apparently is material like these that will be marketed, though details remain sketchy.

William advised me Sunday night that Icon will also have a calendar available starting next week, available in Bookazines and at Icon facilities, and other places. From one apparent advertising sketch I saw, it appears the calendar may feature mid-sections of the Icon young men, but personally I hope it will be more all-encompassing than that. The Icon dancers have magnificent bodies, for the most part, including fascinating faces, and I certainly hope some of those will be featured in the calendar. More detail will be published next week when the calendars themselves become available.

Thai Guys magazine is available by subscription: “To subscribe o Thai guys in Thailand, just issue a checque to OPQRS Co., Ltd, for 600 baht (12 issues) and send to Fortune Condo Tower 2, 3145/253 Satupradit 19 Road, Yannawa, Bangkok 10120. The subscription outside Thailand is 2,000 baht (12 issues). Please send your credit card number, expiry date, reason of payment, amount, to our address (of course including your address). Don’t be surprised: the amount will be credited to Amigo Tailor in Pattaya.”

MACHO HANDSOME MAN CONTEST AT CRAZY PUB GETS GOOD TURN OUT; LITTLE SUPPORT FROM OTHER BARS

Crazy Pub‘s Peter reports: “Crazy Pub Macho Handsome Man contest yesterday (Saturday, Dec. 18) was very successful and all the customers (about 200 people) had fun. In the next few days I will send you some pictures and more information about the contest. —– But there is something that I don’t understand in this town, or maybe Pattaya doesn’t have (many) handsome Boys. I sent to every Gay-Place an invitation. There were only 5 Bars able to send me a Contestant. I appreciate that, but the owners from these 5 bars are friends of mine. By the way, another 7 contestants were freelancers. So 12 contestants made the contest. My bar was also packed with gay clients. These people come to this Town to enjoy the Gay life. Nearly every Gay Tourist is fed up with the underwear promotion shows, so I try to make some kind of Entertainment and Gay-Happenings, that people enjoy while they are staying in Pattaya. There are more as 75 Gay places and only 5 Bars are able to send a Handsome Boy.”

I indicated to Peter in a response that it appears that all the gay business people should take part in various promotions city-wide, and maybe, if there is no organization which can help organize and coordinate such things, it would be worthwhile looking into such a possibility. Cooperation among bars and other businesses has to be a “two way street”; there has to be some coordination between the businesses, and some genuine effort by those involved to help support the special ventures even of the “competition”, since no one bar or business brings in all the varied customers Pattaya draws upon. I had heard in years past that some of these special contests had been coordinated, and :”turns” taken in sponsorship of such special events, but that was always just second hand information. Maybe something can be done yet to get all the gay businesses to work together to improve the offerings that draw customers, tourists and visitors to Pattaya.

LE CAFE ROYALE’S HOLIDAY PLANS; DINNERS, SHOWS, ETC., DETAILED.

Ian McKnight of Le Cafe Royale writes: ” I am remiss in not sending you our complete Christmas/New Year’s Eve programme. It follows:

———————–

Le Cafe Royale

Christmas & New Year’s Entertainment Program, 1999

SEASON’S GREETINGS Ian, Robbie, Ian and all the staff take this opportunity to wish everybody a merry Christmas, a very Happy New Year and special good wishes for the new Millennium.

As usual for the festive season, we have put together a comprehensive list of fun activities and mouth-watering menus to make you feel at home in Le CafÈ Royale.

PARTY NIGHT – CHRISTMAS EVE, FRIDAY, 24th December

As guests will have only just arrived, we put them straight into the right frame of mind with an entertaining evening. There will again be a special appearance of the celebrated Mother Christmas during the evening with much fun and frivolity. Our musicians and house band will keep you entertained into the early hours of the morning.

TRADITIONAL DINNER – CHRISTMAS DAY , Saturday, 25th December. A traditional five course Christmas Dinner (1,400B per person) and also a four course special Thai dinner (800B per person) will be served in the evening whilst you are being entertained with traditional music from our house pianist. During the evening there will be a short performance from an Pattaya Children’s choir. The evening then starts jumping from midnight with a special performance by our house band, with Noi and Ter. Reservations for the one sitting at 20.30 hours are recommended.

At night, the Coffee Shop is transformed into a Restaurant. A daily special supplements the wide range of menu items. Again, beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks are available at all times.

“DINE WITH DALE” throughout the Festive Period Throughout the Christmas and New Year period. DALE GUTZMAN (International Theatre Personality) and MIKE WEISER will be presenting short musical shows for those who enjoy light entertainment during dinner. 30 minute shows will be presented at 9.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 28 December, Thursday, 30 December, Sunday, 2 January, Tuesday, 4 January, Thursday, 6 January and Saturday, 8 January. See below for details of our Special Millennium Entertainment program on 31st December.

ANNUAL BOAT TRIP – Monday, 27th December This is the day of our annual boat trip to the sun soaked beaches and crystal clear waters of Koh Larn Island. Staff from Le CafÈ Royale will accompany you to ensure an enjoyable day is had by all. Price is 1,000B per person (which includes a wide range of foods, including a Thai buffet, and drinks). The day will be complemented with the 2nd year of the CafÈ Royale Games, hosted by a local celebrity. How are you at three-leg racing or handbag throwing? Passengers meet on Le CafÈ Royale’s Terrace at 11.00 hours.

NEW YEAR’S EVE – Friday, 31st December

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY with BUFFET EXTRAVAGANZA and special MILLENNIUM ENTERTAINMENT Here is a chance to give yourself a real treat and celebrate the New Year in a great party atmosphere. We are offering a Gala Buffet Extravaganza with a virtually unlimited selection of delicacies and to celebrate the new millennium, we are bringing Dale Gutzman and Mike Weiser from Milwaukee, USA to present “Just you, Just Me”, an intimate musical comedy. On arrival, you will be welcomed with a Champagne Cocktail and a choice of hors d’oeuvres. Buffet dishes include smoked salmon, prawns, barbecued kebabs and Tiger prawns, roast meats and baked Virginia ham carvery; cold cuts; Thai foods; all with a wide selection of salads and hot and cold seasonal vegetables. Selection of Thai and International desserts, imported cheeses and fruits. From 20.30 hours. Eat as much as you like, enjoy the Special Millennium Show, all for only 2,000þ per person. Party and live music until the early hours of the morning.

ICON BOUTIQUE HOTEL AND ICON THE CLUB CELEBRATE HOLIDAY SEASON

ICON BOUTIQUE HOTEL CHRISTMAS DINNER 1999

Traditional dinner with all the trimmings; includes entrance to the Club. Dinner 20:00 to 22:00 Baht 1,20 includes 1 drink of your choice.

ICON BOUTIQUE HOTEL, NEW YEARS EVE 2000 “Back to the Beginning — the Jungle” Poolside Buffet Extravaganza with show and entertainment. 20:30 till Late. Please come dressed in the theme, or costumes will be available at the door. Baht 1,500 includes two drinks of your choice and entrance to the Club Dance Party.

NEW YEARS EVE 2000 “THE ONLY DANCE PARTY IN PATTAYA” “Back to the Beginning — THE JUNGLE” at the CLUB, 21:30 till LATE. The best show in town. Please come dressed in the theme, or costumes will be available at the door. Baht 500 includes 2 drinks of your choice. No reserved seating on this night.

SUNEE HAS ANOTHER NEW BAR, COUNTRY CLUB, AN OPEN BAR BETWEEN REDGY’S PLACE AND PINEAPPLE

Sunee Plaza witnessed the opening of one additional bar on Saturday evening, Dec. 18, with the opening of COUNTRY CLUB on the westernmost Sunee Plaza soi. Located between Redgy’s Place and Pineapple Bar, Country Club is an open bar featuring several good looking young hosts and moderate music. While there, note was made for the first time of a pineapple-decor to the first of the two entrances to Pineapple Bar, with customers entering the bar through a “slit” in the pineapple which dominates the entranceway. The other room, where the snooker table is found, has no such fancy entrance. The map of Sunee Plaza maintained for www.pattayagay.com has already been changed on the Internet to show this addition. It can be found at www.pattayagay.com, click on “Maps”, and then click on “Go.” It can also be accessed directly at www.serv.net/~idaho/maps.html

Another bar reportedly has opened, under the name Mango, on the same street in Sunee Plaza, but I did not notice it on my visit Saturday evening, Dec. 18th, so I will check it out for this coming week.

BOYS ZONE PUB-DISCO OPENING ON SOI VC ?

An advertisement in Thai Guys magazine, Issue #2, for December-January, also indicates that a “BOYS ZONE PUB – DISCOTHEQUE“, intended as “Pattaya’s premier dancing and meeting new friends bar” is “opening in December 99”. Telephone 713-559. It will be “situated close to the Sunee Plaza on Soi VC” . I walked the entire length of Soi VC Saturday night, late in the evening, and spotted no place which appears ready for opening in December, 99. However, since most closed places are behind closed steel doors, there is no indication of what is going on inside. Nonetheless, nothing I saw gave any indication of any such business about to open soon. The ad says to “Keep on the lookout for more information coming your way!” The ad is at the top of a page otherwise dedicated to four businesses operated by the Studio Group, now using the website, www.gaypattaya.com, which is also widely advertised in this issue of Thai Guys magazine. However, much as the placement would lead me to believe it might be affiliated with Studio Group, the web site makes no mention of any such new proposed business. The best we can do is keep alert and report the opening if and when it occurs.

MICHAEL OF STUDIO GROUP DETAILS PLANS, STATUS FOR STUDIO BOYS, JOLLY BOYS, NOK NOK, BELIEVE

Last week we reported on the Studio Group, which now has a very active web site, www.gaypattaya.com , advertising its extensive business activities on Soi Day Night 2 and in Sunee Plaza. Michael, the spokesman for the Studio Group, has written providing additional information on the Group’s activities and its plans. He says the restaurant located on the ground floor of Jolly Boys Building is available to provide only Thai food, but Thai food will be provided to customers on request, as well as to the boys working for the Studio Group.

Michael (Michel), writes: “About : Studio Food or restaurant, it is only open now for Thai food, only. For our boys working in all our bars, but also customers or farangs can order only Thai food now. I had hoped to start on 1st December with French cooking, but the one chef scheduled to come had to cancel his plans on coming to Thailand ! So again I’m looking for a French chef !”

As for the hotel, Michael says: “Hotel : open now, with 3 Super Deluxe rooms, 1 Deluxe room : on second floor On 4th floor close to Jolly Boy’s Studio : 1 small Deluxe room on the 4th floor (top)”

Michael also explained that the companies have long range plans to buy additional shop houses nearby, to make the hotel bigger, but feels that he would need another investor before he could fully proceed with that. “I cannot make all alone so I look also for partner : but partners with money, can invest with us ”

About the Jolly Boy club itself, Michael explained: “Jolly Boy is like a more private club; we ask people coming there to be well dressed : not looking as a beggar with short pants,” and not looking dirty like some tourists visiting in Pattaya seem to do.

The web site has considerable information about the various activities; its URL is www.gaypattaya.com (Please note that this newsletter is published by www.pattayagay.com, which has no connection whatever with the www.gaypattaya.com site. )

SPLASH APPARENTLY NEARS OPENING — DECEMBER, 99 STILL TOUTED AS THE MONTH IN WHICH IT WILL OPEN

Although no specific date for opening is mentioned any more, reports take on new meaning as the improvements within the Splash bar site have reached a point where opening could come almost momentarily now. The glass appears to be in place and operating for the swimming area, and the web site, while advertising opening in “the middle of December”, www.splash-pattaya.com , shows evidence that the facility is indeed about to open. Folks around Ambiance Hotel seem assured now that it will indeed open “sometime” in December, 1999, but no specific date has been announced as yet.

That’/s it for this week, guys.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Gay Pattayan Dec, 19, 1999 (actually written Dec. 20, 1999)

e-mail: GayPattayan@pattayagay.com

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