They’re baaaaack. After an extended absence in Las Vegas, the Spundae nightlife events and promotion family is returning with all new parties in 2009. Currently cleaning up on the West Coast, throwing successful weekly events at San Francisco’s Ruby Skye and LA’s Avalon, Spundae is also responsible for Love Fest and other huge events throughout the year. Spundae has a history in Vegas, working with venues such as Ice, Empire Ballroom, RA and Baby’s back in the days before it was Body English. But where did they go?

“We have just been focusing on different areas in California and different markets, like Mexico,” says Lisa Beckers, Spundae’s vice president of marketing and PR. “Spundae is very much looking forward to coming back into [the Vegas] market. It’s always been a great market for us.”

Starting January 10 at the VooDoo Lounge, Spundae will kick of a year of “full moon” parties each month, no matter which day of the week the full moon occurs. And in the event of a “blue moon” (more than one full moon in a month—Wiki it), Beckers says they’ll probably just do two events in the same month. (Side note: The only blue moon in 2009 will occur on December 31. Let this be your super-advance notice for next year’s party plans.)

But before the rise of the full moon parties, Spundae’s return starts with Day One, just a li’l family affair on January 1 featuring at least 15 of Vegas’—and Team Hangover’s—favorite DJs high atop the Rio at VooDoo Lounge for those of us that didn’t get in enough partying the night before. “With Spundae being around for so long … we have a very close relationship with all these DJs,” says Beckers. “We really consider them part of our family because they’ve worked with us on and off for so long.”

The roster features tag-team DJ duos out on VooDoo’s climate-controlled terrace and more DJs in the remodeled lounge; Beckers says the DJs slated to appear were chosen because they generally avoid spinning the commercial music that oversaturates the Vegas nightclubs. “It kind of goes back to the old roots,” she says. “I think that’s very appealing to a lot of locals who have worked all night on New Year’s Eve.” Hey, welcome back to the fold!

Imminent arrivals

Get ready to catch the babies! The New Year’s babies, that is. The list is somewhat shorter than in past years, but it’s glorious nonetheless: On New Year’s Eve, Vegas will welcome two bouncing baby nightclubs—one a little country, one a little rock and hip-hop mash-ups (and house). Stoney’s North Forty will join its big bro Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, this time at Santa Fe Station. Down on the Strip, Victor Drai’s third venue XS opens at Encore. Sneak-peekers already rave about the entrance—up and down, marble and mesh and lifelike bodies sculpted around casts of the Wynn casino cocktail staff. If the interior lives up to the hype of just the entrance, we’re all in for a treat this year.

Clubs give as good as they get

2008 has been a rough year for many charities. But in Vegas, scores of nightclubs and bars pitched in, making a real difference with parties that helped a lot of children this winter. On the more serious side, Pure and LAX collected money and toys for Toys for Tots on December 16 and 17, respectively. Also on December 17, the Platinum modeling agency held its second annual holiday toy drive at Rok Vegas. Earlier in the month, the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation kicked off their seventh annual Fill the Truck Toy Drive at Hennessey’s Tavern. Blush also held a toy drive, which yielded a heaping cart of goodies for children, and Poetry collected food, then coats, and then filled five U-Hauls with toys!

On the not-so-serious side, McFadden’s served up “D-cups of holiday cheer” on December 13 with a breast-implant giveaway to the lady who made the largest donation for “Toys for Ta-Ta’s.” In another act of charity, the breasts in question were donated by renowned cosmetic surgeon Samir Pancholi.

Close to 100 Tryst employees took a field trip to a local Walmart early on December 10, plunking down $32,000 for toys for the annual KLUC 98.5-FM charity toy drive. The 60-car caravan was led by VIP host Bobby Morton and John Taddeo blasting Run-DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” from his SUV. After the spree, Metro escorted the crew and their gifts to the site of the toy drive, their donation said to be the largest KLUC’s ever received for this event.