New Year's Eve parties are often some of the biggest events of the year, so it's no surprise to hear that the ultra-rich go all out for them. A Russian billionaire wanted to ensure that his party had top-of-the-line entertainment and paid singer George Michael £1.5 million (approx $3 million) to perform a set. "George was back home in Britain by morning," a representative said, and with the honor of being the highest paid entertainer in Russian history. The runner-up for the title is Christina Aguilera, was paid £1 million ($2 million) "for performing three songs at a Russian wedding" in 2005.

To support the VH1's Save the Music Foundation and the Rock And Roll Forever Foundation, the Hard Rock Cafe is hosting an auction with several Sopranos-themed items. The biggest thing up for auction is an exclusive VIP New Year's Eve bash at the Hard Rock with may of the Sopranos cast members. At the moment, the bidding is at $100,000 for that package, but other auction items include a signed Gibson Firebird guitar from Steven Van Zandt, a saxophone signed by Clarence Clemons (both of Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band) t and a VIP NASCAR package that includes a chance to meet several race drivers.

I suppose that the purpose of an inflatable bar is so that you don't have to commit a lot of room to storing a more solid piece of furniture year-round when you really only need something to use every few months. Bubble Miami makes inflatable bars, buffets and coffee tables in a number of different sizes, shapes and colors. They can hold a substantial amount of weight, certainly enough for the bottles, glasses and any hors d'oeuvres that you might put on them, and are quite sturdy, too. The company both sells and rents the units, but you'll have to call for pricing information and to find the one that will best suit your needs.

[via cribcandy]

Even though these are really a custom piece and there is no pricing information, we absolutely love these Scrabble Benches from designer Stephen Reed. They are located in the employee break room at the London branch of Bloomberg financial services. The screen-printed pillows have all the classic scrabble letters, so employees can spell out messages or leave notes. It seems like it would be a lot of fun to have these at home, where you could leave little notes for your spouse in the morning or get everyone involved in a game at a party.

[via boingboing]

This Melrose Bar is a neat little bar that is perfect for parties, whether indoors or out, since it is mounted on wheels and can easily be transported anywhere you need it to go. It is cylindrical and made from metal, with cutouts to reveal shelves for glasses, wines, liquors and any accessories you might want. The top of the bar is mirrored, but the two lower shelves are made of wood veneer, and the bottom even has built-in holders for bottles, which not only keeps things organized during a party, but means that you can use the bar for storage when it's not actively in use. Price: $998.

Sold in a set of four, these lovely Ink Blot Plates can be the entertainment as well as the tableware at your next dinner party. Each plate has a unique blot at its center, along with a "haiku-like saying," such as "Dueling Roosters", "Compassion Among Species" and "Unlikely Event." The sayings are meant not to caption the blots, but to provoke further thought about what the designs might contain. The plates are made of porcelain in the US and were designed by Kathleen Walsh .

One additional bonus of using these at a party is that your guests will be sure to clean their plates to reveal the ink blot design in full. Price: $220.

Is it already time to start thinking about holiday entertaining? It must be, since retailers are well on their way through fall and into winter goods. The Mauviel Copper Champagne Bowl would make a fantastic presentation at just about any party from now through New Year's. It is a 15 3/4"x8" unlined copper bowl that is meant to be used to chill bottles of champagne or wine for serving. The outside of the bowl, as well as the base, is finished with a clear, protective varnish to preserve the shine of the copper and the bronze handles on either end make it easy to transport. The bowl can hold up to 6 bottles of wine with ease. Price: $299.

Is it possible to have too many puzzles in the house? Probably, but that doesn't mean that I like the design of these DNA Tables any less. Far less difficult to assemble than the human genome, the series of tables is comprised of four different table styles that can be fit together in a variety of ways to make a larger, more useful table that bears an uncanny resemblance to a strand of DNA. With metal bases in silver or chrome and brightly colored tops, the tables do look a bit like they would fit in at a 50's diner, but that's part of the appeal, since they're visually much more interesting than many other cocktail tables you'll find. Prices range from $695 to $795 per table.

While the Cool Ice Jewels are a nice touch of icy bling for drinks, sometimes something a bit larger is needed to really add flash to a party. Ice sculptures are nice, but they take lots of planning. It's so much easier just to make one at home using an ice mold. Simply fill up the mold and use it as a centerpiece, filled with candles or flowers, or as a serving bowl for fruits and ice creams. Just like a full-blown ice sculpture, it will catch the eyes of all your guests, like a giant diamond on the table. Use food colorings to add jewel-like colors to the tablescape, or freeze flowers or fruits right into the mold. Price: $29.99.

The jeweled wedge sandals from Christian Lacroix are billed as being the "ultimate summer party shoe" and they are certainly bold enough to add flair to any outfit. The heel comes to a 100mm point and is completely encrusted with tiny crystals. The top of the sandal has narrow, buff-colored straps and is accented at the ankle with a big, satin bow. Be sure to wear these shoes with an understated dress, because they're sure to get a lot of attention. Price: $1,636.31