CHENNAI: If you’ve ever dreamt of putting on a pair of glass slippers like Cinderella — New Year’s eve in Chennai seems as good a time as any to shout out to your fairy godmother. With parties galore, often several within the same hotel, and promises of everything from deluxe servings of Black Label to bootylicious dancers all the way from Europe — event organisers and hotel staff are feverishly prepping as you read this for the biggest, and need we remind you, most lucrative night of the year.
A running trend that seems to just as popular at New Year parties this time around as well as previous years, is the ‘masquerade ball’. And asking around, this reporter found quite a few hotels gearing up for an evening of typical Mardi Gras fun.
In fact, Jagdish K, owner of Sparkkz Events tells us, “This will be our third masquerade New Year in a row, and the theme is always a hit.” With masks sourced from China that boast of colourful feather plumes and gem studded fixtures, walking into the Taj Club House this December 31 may have you feeling like you’re on the sets of the Mask of Zorro, save for the pumping disco music in the background of course!
Other popular concepts doing the rounds include themed dress codes such as a White Night (The Accord Metropolitan), a walk into the wild with a jungle theme and rain dance (VGP Golden Beach Resorts) and even a Moustache Party out on the ECR!
For the latter, resident manager of the Citrus Hotel, Jude Michael clarifies you don’t have to necessarily sport a bushy handlebar stache to attend. “We have sourced moustache wigs that can be placed on quite comfortably with a mild adhesive,” he let’s on, and adds for incentive a moment later, “there are special stay prizes at our hotels around the country just for the ladies who want to give it a try as well!”
With so much happening in the city ahead of the big countdown to New Year 2015, it seems several couples and families from other places such as Coimbatore and Mysuru are opting to join the action as well. A spokesperson from The Park says, “We’ve had a marked increase in inquiries and bookings for rooms this year, both from out-of-towners and guests from the city.” She adds, “Also beyond the party fun, a lot of people have said they just feel safer staying the night with their families, rather than driving back home so late.”
In fact, for party hoppers who want to get double the action, minus the bother of a late-night commute, we’re told there’s even a three party option that falls under a single cover! “This includes a Chandni Bar Bollywood style party at our banquet hall, a Leather and Lace themed party at the Leather Bar and Crazy Horse, a fun dance party complete with disco ball right at the entrance of the Park,” says Anshu Chhetri, F&B manager of the hotel.