Happy New Year, Party Girl! Now, let's talk about leaves and the turning over thereof. Could there possibly be a better time to try something new? And thanks to the creative minds of Las Vegas' nightlife promoters, the month of January will see a surge of exciting new events and tons new venues.

Every Monday for over four years, the very private members-only Foundation Room atop Mandalay Bay has been opening its doors to chic partiers for Godspeed. With three distinct environments—the Lounge, the Dining Room, and Shangri-La—Godspeed resident and guest DJs are able to present the energetic crowd with a personalized musical experience.

In 2006, Godspeed invites you to Be Born Again. With a new, streamlined line-up of resident DJs and monthly events, Godspeed is poised to turn over its own leaf and redefine itself in the new year. A series of events will introduce the world to Godspeed's new resident DJ's beginning with Kaskade on January 2nd, King Britt on January 9th, and Miguel Migs on January 27th. OM Records will present the monthly event OM Las Vegas, an expression of music through the OM label's artists beginning with a February 20th appearance by Marques Wyatt and Rithma celebrating the label's 10th anniversary. Also, the recent addition of the Martinez Brothers will kick off the once monthly event Higher Ground 43 featuring '80s, soul disco, and rock. Devotees will be delighted, and newcomers will soon discover those delights.

If hip-hop and house music really just aren't your thing, then Sanctuary at Krave Lounge may be more your style. '80s buffs will enjoy Sanctuary's blend of dark new wave classics and even darker '90s industrial indulgences. Every Friday night, fans of the Cure, the Cult, New Order and Depeche Mode will find bliss on the dance floor with likeminded souls.

True night owls will be glad to hear that the wild success of Gino Lopinto's Late Night Empire Saturdays at Empire Ballroom has begotten the new Late Night Empire Fridays. Moreover, 2006 ushers in the age of Seamless Adult Ultralounge—a hybrid creation that blends the traditional gentlemen's club with the sultry environment of an ultralounge…seamlessly. Every night at 4:00 a.m. the furniture is changed out and the topless activity relocates behind smoked glass, giving way to Seamless Afterhours, a sexy—but covered—afterhours with DJ Gumbee and friends.

Yet another afterhours has been announced, this one by the Rio, who debuted their new nightclub alternative, Masquerade After Hours, over the New Year's weekend. The event will take place every Friday and Saturday in January in the Masquerade Village, allowing guests to enjoy a nightclub experience without the misery of long lines and cover charges. A live local DJ will spin from 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. In addition, four sultry and energetic shows will feature a cast of sexy singers and dancers with shows at midnight, 12:45 a.m., 1:30 a.m., and 2:15 a.m.

New to the strip this January are Tryst Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas and Jet Nightclub at the Mirage. Look for Tryst's Industry Thursdays to pick up right where La Bete left off—if not better!—and for their Retro Sundays to be a welcome alternative to the mainstream. Jet has planted itself firmly at the top of the heap with their killer Industry Mondays on a night that received little attention in 2005 compared to the fracas over Wednesday and Thursday domination. Not to be left out, Pure Management Group has confirmed their plans to open a restaurant on the Siren Lagoon at TI (think seafood). Towards the end of 2005, oodles of rumors swirled about regarding what nightclubs Pure is allegedly going to take over and turn into the next It club. Only time will tell…

Never a dull moment, Party Girl!

Xania has never met a martini she didn't like.



Email her at: xania@thecircuitlv.com