new years eve

P. Diddy Charters the $600,000-a-Week iPad Megayacht in St. Barths

Filed under: Gadgets, Yachts & Sailing, Celebrity Shopping, Wealth

The other day we told you about Solemates (above), the $600,000 per week 197-ft. superyacht charter designed by the great Espen Oeino and launched by Lürssen earlier this year, the first of its kind to offer clients control of its various high-tech systems via the iPad. Now none other than Sean "P. Diddy" Combs has turned up on the yacht in St. Barths, where he chartered the ultra-luxe vessel for a family vacation over New Year's with girlfriend Kim Porter, their daughters D'Lila and Jessie and son Justin before jetting to Las Vegas to party. Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas visited as well. Via the iPad Diddy and co. can control the shipboard entertainment, climate and lighting systems and even summon crewmembers to bring refreshments.

The interior of the yacht, which accommodates 12 guests in six luxurious cabins, was designed by Glade Johnson in a blend of elegant, rich woods and textures and classical details paired with contemporary, sleek lines. The main and upper deck salons are awash with natural light and offer impressive spaces for formal or casual dining and entertaining. The sun deck features an outdoor dining area and a sun lounge wrapped around the Jacuzzi forward, and a discotheque sound and lighting system turns it into an al fresco nightclub. There are several toys and tenders aboard for a variety of recreational activities.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: 'Solemates' iPad Superyacht Charter

Tags: celebrity, Diddy, Espen Oeino, iPad, New Years Eve, p+diddy+ipad+yacht, p+diddy+yacht, P. Diddy, p.+diddy+ipad+superyacht, p.diddyipadsuperyacht, pdiddyipadyacht, pdiddyyacht, Sean Combs, Sean P. Diddy Combs, Solemates, St. Barths, superyacht, yacht, yacht charter

Kate Moss Splashes Out $150,000 on NYE Spree

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

Kate Moss splashed out $150,000 on a last-minute New Year's Eve blowout in Thailand with her rock star boyfriend Jamie Hince. Moss has booked in for a week at the luxe Amanpuri resort in Phuket where she has rented a private villa with a full staff as well as a luxury yacht to cruise round the Andaman sea, the UK's Daily Star reports. For New Year's Eve the stunning supermodel spent about $45,000 on a lavish banquet. Moss has spent the last three New Year's Eves at the glamorous resort, situated in a coconut grove on a private beach. The paper reports that she wanted to make other plans this year but left it too late and found everything booked. "She's in a huff because she was desperate for somewhere new, but was turned down by top resorts around the globe who had no room left," a source tells the paper. "Kate's been moaning that's she's not happy going back to the same resort, but to make it exciting she'll do it in style and raise the roof." That's the spirit.

Gallery: Amanpuri Resort, Thailand

Tags: Amanpuri, beach, Kate Moss, New Years Eve, Phuket, resort, supermodel, Thailand, yacht

Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Hosts Star-Studded Grand Opening

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The place to be to ring in 2011? For many of Hollywood's elite, it was The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the city's newest and most glamorous resort, which kicked off a grand opening celebration with concert performances from JAY-Z and Coldplay, plus guest surprises by Kanye West, Beyonce and John Mayer.

Coldplay kicked off the evening with a 12 song set, which included Yellow, In My Place and Clocks. To ring in the New Year, JAY-Z joined Coldplay on stage for a rendition of Lost, followed by a countdown to midnight. JAY-Z took the stage for the first hours of 2011 and was joined by Kanye West for an impromptu freestyle performance of Run This Town, Can't Tell Me Nothing and Runaway. As Kanye left the stage, John Mayer joined pal JAY-Z with his guitar for several songs, including Public Service Announcement and 99 Problems. The ultimate collaboration of the evening came when Beyonce joined her husband on stage for Young Forever. She continued to wow the crowd, bringing Coldplay frontman Chris Martin back out for an acoustic duet of her hit, Halo.

Gallery: Cosmopolitan Las Vegas Grand Opening

Tags: Aaron Paul, Abigail Spencer, Alex Rodriguez and Cameron Diaz, Armie Hammer, Aziz Ansari, Ben Folds, Ben Lyons, beyonce, BJ Novak, Blake Lively, Bonnie Somerville, Brandy, Busta Rhymes, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan, Charlotte and Samantha Ronson, Cheryl Hines, chris martin, Chris Matthews, Christina Milian, coldplay, cosmopolitan, cosmopolitan resort and casino, Dr. Dre, Ellen Pompeo and Chris Ivery, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Emmy Rossum, Florence + the Machine, Forest and Keisha Whitaker, Gail Simmons, Gayle King, Giada de Laurentiis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Haylie Duff, Holly Robinson Peete, Jackie Warner and Colin Cowie., James Marsden, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Jeremy Piven, Jessica Szohr, john mayer, Justin Bartha and Ashley Olsen, Kayne West, Kellan Lutz, Kirsten Dunst, Kristin Davis, Lance Bass, Las Vegas, Lisa Ling, Marc Salling, Mark Wahlberg, Mel B, new years eve, new years eve 2011, New Years Eve party, Nick Zano, Olivia Munn, Rachael Harris, Rachael Taylor, Rashida Jones, Rihanna, Selita Ebanks, Shiri Appleby, Sugar Ray Leonard, Taraji Henson, Teri Polo, Timothy Olyphant, Whitney Port, Wilmer Valderrama

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Roman Abramovich Hosts Lavish New Year's Eve Party

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

The place to be tonight for one of the world's most lavish parties is St. Barts where Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is hosting an epic shindig. Last year, Abramovich partied with Prince, this year the lead act will be The Black Eyed Peas. Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, who have be been spotted yacht hopping in the area, are expected to be in attendance as are George Lucas, Alicia Keys, Harvey Weinstein, Puff Daddy and Salma Hayek. According to the Daily Mail, Governor Bay, where Abramovich's multi-million dollar estate is located, has been cordoned off. The Daily Mail has images of Fergie and her husband Josh Duhamel arriving via helicopter as well as Alicia Keys and Salma Hayek with her young daughter.

Boom times are back for Abramovich who owns a fleet of yachts including his latest baby, the Eclipse. He is also planning a mega-mansion in the Knightsbridge area of London and spent around $400 for a private island in Russia to house his growing art collection. This party is just the cap to a very spendy year.

Tags: new years eve, roman abramovich

New Year's Eve Hotel Packages

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The La Concha Resort in San Juan, Puerto Rico is offering a New Year's Eve travel package that ties in with their New Year's Eve bash. Party indoors and out in the open-air lobby and pool deck. Food and beverage is served at Solera, Komakai (sushi) and the lobby bar. The best DJs in Puerto Rico provide entertainment and a resident DJ from Miami comes every year. Guests also have the chance to listen to live entertainment, and watch the fireworks poolside. Room rates start at $299/night and there is a three night minimum.

Tags: mandarin oriental, new years eve, new years eve hotel packages, new years eve parties

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Poetry Inn's "Resolution Rehab" Package

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

If you're one to make New Year's resolutions that you have a hard time keeping you might benefit from a full on "Resolution Rehab" experience at Poetry Inn. As if you needed any extra incentive to head off to Napa Valley during the doldrums of January Poetry Inn is making it ever more tempting with their package that's geared to getting you on track the right way for 2011. Customize the experience based on your needs, wants, and (of course) resolutions, with choices including one-on-one therapy sessions with a top therapist that once appeared on Oprah, a custom juice cleanse, extreme yoga, spa treatments, life coach sessions, nutritional consults, as well as hiking and vineyard tour experiences. And after you've finished all your soul searching and spirit rejuvenating you'll be treated with a 3-liter bottle of the 2007 Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon to take home.

Poetry Inn's Resolution Rehab package is available starting January 1, 2011, with pricing available upon request.

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Tags: napa valley, new years, new years eve, poetry inn

Hot Holiday Cocktails from Hornitos Tequila

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Video

You may not think of tequila as a traditional holiday tipple, but in fact more of it is consumed over the holidays than at any other time of the year. It certainly fits the bill when you're looking for a party crowd-pleaser, for one thing. Hornitos Premium Tequila, the 100% puro agave tequila from Beam Global Spirits & Wine, named after the small agave ovens which played a central part in the great Don Francisco Javier Sauza's revolution of the tequila industry 50 years ago, has created some unexpected holiday drinks designed to "instigate a night of endless celebratory possibilities" using their acclaimed Plata, Reposado and Anejo expressions. They've also come up with an extra-special concoction for New Year's Eve which will be served at the Official Times Square New Year's Eve Party at the Hard Rock Cafe, while debuting a cool new commercial (above) set to run from December 27th – January 2 tied to the occasion. Read on for recipes and bottoms up.

Hornitos Holiday Smash

1 ½ parts Hornitos™ Añejo Tequila
2 slices fresh pear
1 wedge of fresh lemon
1 half moon slice of orange
½ part simple syrup
3 whole cloves

In a sturdy double Old Fashioned glass muddle the cloves. Add to the glass the orange, lemon, and pear and muddle with simple syrup. Fill glass with ice, add Hornitos and stir. Serves One. [cont'd]

Tags: cocktail, cocktail recipe, cocktails, Holiday 2010, holidays, Hornitos, New Years Eve, Sauza, spirits, tequila

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Make the Right Champagne and Cigar Choice for New Year's Eve [EXCLUSIVE]

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

What will you cut and light when you pop the cork on New Year's Eve? People may agonize over champagne choices, but cigars don't always get commensurate attention. Fortunately, Vin lee, CEO of the Beverly Hills Cigar Club, was on hand to provide his recommendations for the biggest party night of the year. Below are his top five cigar and champagne pairings, designed to make your first sip and puff of 2011 ideal.

Lee is particularly excited about the new year. "Now is the time for the world to celebrate its recovery and success," he said. "For the New Year, from Dubai to Paris and from New York to Beverly Hills, it is time for the world to rejoice in what we have and who we are. Coming together with a glass of bubbly and a fine cigar, let's welcome 2011."

Let's take a look on what's on the Beverly Hills Cigar Club's list:

Tags: arturo fuente, beverly hills, Celebration, champagne, cigar, cigar club, cigar lounge, cigars, davidoff, Macanudo, new years eve, Veuve Clicquot, zino, zino davidoff

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Eight Casinos To Welcome In The New Year

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Many people think that 2011 will be a lucky year. Online gaming site GR88.com has listed their top eight casinos and resorts where travelers can spend the new year. "The GR88 team looks forward to an outstanding year, filled with great success for all of our loyal players," said Charles Exeter, GR88 spokesperson. "With our players in mind, we are pleased to list the eight greatest casinos to ring in the New Year."

1- Crown Casino, Melbourne Australia. Get a jump on the new year at this casino's annual celebration that will include three difference party arenas, mixing the tracks of the best DJ's in the world such as Finlo White, Phil Ross, Tate Strauss, Joe Sofo and Kitty Kat, Jono Earle & Chris Mac. The casino's New Year celebration will include stunning burlesque dancers, cocktail specials and giveaways all night long.

Tags: casinos, new years eve

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12 New Year's Eve Party Dresses

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

The Holiday Season is in full swing. Christmas is quickly approaching and before you know it, New Year's Eve will make its arrival. And you know what that means? The search begins, if it hasn't already, for the perfect dress to attend the world's ultimate party.

So what makes for the perfect dress? First off is comfort. If you don't feel comfortable and confident in what you are wearing, don't wear it. Even the most expensive dress by the best designer will not work if you don't feel comfortable. Second, forget the trends and wear a dress that works for your body. Find a complementing silhouette, color and length.

To help your quest for the right dress, we've searched and found a collection of some breathtaking and seductive dresses. We start with a gorgeous strapless party dress from Tracy Reese. The Curving Cloudcover Dress ($398) is made with various pieces of delicate chiffon that are layered together against a form fitting a-line silhouette. A dark color combination of black and grey with hints of sequins makes for a versatile dress that would complement all skin tones. Reese's elegant and ethereal dress is fashionable enough to be worn with minimal jewelry and sexy high-heeled patent leather pumps for a knock-out outfit.

Take a look through our gallery below of chic dresses to bring in the New Year.

Have tips or suggestions? Contact me @marsha712

Gallery: 12 New Year's Eve Party Dresses

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Tags: alice and olivia, anthropologie, apparel, barneys, chloe, dresses, emma cook, eva franco, grey antics, haute hippie, lanvin, liberty, milly, need supply co., net a porter, new years eve, outnet, peter pilotto, rebecca taylor, tracy reese

Cocktail Recipes for Holiday Entertaining

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits, Holiday Guides

The Candy Cane Lane holiday cocktail by Van Gogh BLUE Vodka

Planning to throw a holiday party or an unforgettable New Years' Eve bash? We collected favorite cocktail recipes from some of the best mixologists around, all of which perfect for holiday entertaining.

Richard Leach, the head of the cocktail department at New York's Polynesian supper club, The Hurricane Club told us how to make his delicious banana, rum and fresh mint cocktail while Matthew Silverstein, the bar manager at Mario Batali's Del Posto gave us the recipe for his famous XO Champagne Cocktail. Olivier Flosse of New York's A Voce, shared his "Whisky del Frante" recipe while Chef Jon Ashton, in-house chef for Relish magazine, gave us his "Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake Dessert Shot". Finally, Kara Newman, author of Spice & Ice, a zesty book brimming with cocktail recipes, gave us the secret for making her "Spiced Caramel Apple" cocktail (check out our related story that features Kara's best tips for throwing a cocktail party).

From Van Gogh Vodka's "Candy Cane Lane" to the "Sugar Cookie", your guests will love these festive cocktails. Try out a few recipes and let us know us which ones you like the best in the comment field below.

Candy Cane Lane (seen above)
2 1/2 oz Van Gogh BLUE Vodka
1 oz White crème de menthe
1/2 oz Peppermint schnapps
Cream
Splash of Grenadine
Peppermint candy for garnish

Add a dash of grenadine into the bottom of a chilled martini glass and set aside. Pour the rest of the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into the glass with grenadine to create a "swirl" effect. Garnish with peppermint candy.

For more holiday cocktail recipes, click on any of the images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Holiday Party Cocktail Recipes

Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake Dessert Shots

Tags: A Voce, awards-main, Del Posto, food-pedia, Holiday cocktails, Hurricane Club, Kara Newman, luxist-awards, main-pedia, Mario Batali, New Years Eve, The Hurricane Club, Van Gogh BLUE, van gogh vodka

Francois Payard's Black Truffle Chocolate Tart for New Years' Eve

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Holiday Guides

Celebrate New Years' Eve with Francois Payard's decadent black truffle chocolate tart

World-renowned French pastry chef Francois Payard is creating a truly decadent dessert for all chocolate lovers wanting to celebrate New Years' Eve in style.

For New Year's Eve Payard is offering for the first time a Black Truffle Chocolate Tart. Ingredients include real black truffles (currently retailing for $2.60 per gram), a sable Breton shell that is sprinkled with dry girolle mushroom powder. The tart is topped off with a layer of 70% Guanaja Dark Chocolate Ganache that is mixed with fresh black truffle shavings drizzled with a bit of black truffle oil, pieces of hazelnut nougatine and a hint of fleur de sel. While it may sounds unusual, word has it that the tart is absolutely "incredible" according to the select few who were treated to an advance tasting.

Payard describes the tart as "very rich, with a strong truffle flavor and aroma, but also with a deep, intense chocolate flavor so that the earthiness of the truffles complement the slight native acidity of the chocolate without overpowering the finished result."

The Black Truffle Chocolate Tart serves eight people and is a limited edition of only 25, so place your order as soon as possible. It will be available for purchase for $85 at the new Francois Payard Bakery at 116 West Houston Street between Sullivan & Thompson. Orders may be placed online or by phone by calling 212.995.0888, ext. 131.

Tags: awards-main, black truffle, chocolate, dessert, Desserts, Francois Payard, Francois Payard Bakery, luxist-awards, New Years Eve, Payard, tart, truffle

Swing Into the New Year at Chicago's Hotel Palomar

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

If there's any time of year that can bring on a yearning for nostalgia, it's this one. But not everyone wants to take a step back into their own past at the holidays -- sometimes it's just more fun to go back even further, like into another era.

So how do the 1940s grab you? In Chicago, Sable Kitchen & Bar at the Hotel Palomar is hosting Zoot! New
Years Eve 2011. It's an homage to the era of Swing...and not, of course, to all the other horrendous things that happened worldwide in the 1940s...but this is no time for glum thoughts, just dig out your best vintage to rock out to a nine-piece swing band "The Pin Ups", bottomless champagne bar all night long, unlimited small plates from 8 to 11 pm (if they're serving their truffled deviled eggs you'll definitely want to forget all about your waistline), unlimited dessert from 11 pm to 1 am, and all the other usual trimmings of the New Year's Eve gala. Cost: $125 per person, including tax and gratuity.

It'd totally break the spell to drive anywhere in your modern wheels, and so if you and your main queen (or king) crash at the hotel that night, you get two tickets to the party and the room for $419. Just don't get startled out of your nostalgic reverie by the instant-dryer in the hotel's jacuzzi tubs -- they do click on without much warning.

Better still is to go elite, and reserve the VIP Sable Swing Lounge for the 'NYE Anti-Prix Fixe' Dinner. You and your closest nine friends get to create your own dinner menu in a private dining room. The tab: $250 per person.

Tags: chicago, new years eve, swing

Celebrate New Year's Eve Shanghai Style at The Setai, South Beach

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wine, Events

This New Year's Eve ultra-luxe Miami hotel The Setai, South Beach invites guests to pay homage to the hotel's Asian roots and take a trip back to the 1930s and 1940s for one night to the Golden Age of Shanghai. Inspired by an era of sophistication and wealth, when chic nightclubs and dance halls were all the rage, The Setai will be transformed for the night into the "Paris of the Orient" featuring music from sought after Shanghai artists, awe-inspiring decor, and a decadent seven-course tasting menu to create an evening to be remembered. The fabulous event will be divided into three stages:

• The Welcome: A blend of Chinese, Shanghainese, and western jazz by China's acclaimed singer, Coco Zhao, welcomes guests to The Courtyard where Taittinger Champagne, classic cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be waiting.

• The Dinner: Guests will indulge in a seven-course Grand Tasting Menu by Executive Chef David Werly, which includes Créme of Butternut Squash and Spiced Marshmallow, Home-made Salmon Gravalax with Lime Cream and Osetra Caviar, Foie Gras "Au Torchon," as well as Scallops Black Tie, Fresh Black Truffle & Perigourdine Sauce. With each course, guests will enjoy a paired wine, carefully selected by The Setai's Head Sommelier Dwayne Savoie.

• The Party: The celebration continues in The Courtyard for the Countdown Party, where the music of DJ Ludovic Allen entices guests to dance away 2010 and bring in the New Year. Tastes of congee, spring rolls, dim sum, Peking duck sliders, and Chocolate truffles will be passed complimentary after the ball drop. Seating in The Courtyard is sold separately as Bottle Tables.

Gallery: The Setai, South Beach

Tags: champagne, Miami, New Years Eve, Setai, Shanghai, South Beach, Taittinger, The Setai

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Celebrate New Year's Eve at Eden Rock on St. Barths

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events

Headed to St. Barth's for the holidays? If you are planning on being there, be sure to check out the legendary New Year's Eve 2011 party held at Eden Rock, which will be the party to go to on the island, as it is every year.

The evening will commence with an exceptionally lavish gourmet dinner around the rock (autour de rocher) at On The Rocks, followed at midnight by a pyrotechnical display of color and magic. Anne Cecile, the hotel's new executive chef, will prepare a culinary explosion of tastes and savours to titillate guests' taste buds in anticipation of an evening of fun and frolic.

Following dinner, all guests will be welcome to join the after-hour party at the Sand Bar and adjoining St. Jean beach to dance away 2010 until the wee hours of the morning.