If you follow at least a few of the directives this rag throws at you regarding party hot spots on New Year’s Eve, chances are you’ll be in desperate need of an effective hangover remedy Tuesday, the first day (cough! ouch!) of 2008. Since the main culprit of a nasty hangover is dehydration, you should drink plenty of water with your booze Monday night. If not, only time is going to make the hairy, ugly pounding go away. These morning-after drink recipes from legendary restaurateur Trader Vic Bergeron, however, may help.

• The Banana Cow: 1 crushed ripe banana (a good source of hangover-fighting potassium), 2 level tablespoons of powdered sugar, 3 ounces of whole milk, 1-1/2 ounces of Puerto Rican rum, and (cough! ouch!) cracked ice; blend well.


• The Prairie Oyster: 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, 1 dash of Tabasco, 1 raw egg, a few drops lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste in a shot glass.


• And, of course, the Bloody Mary, a perennial fave: 4 ounces of tomato juice, 1-1/2 ounces of vodka, 1/4 ounce of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce, dash of Tabasco, and celery salt and ground pepper to taste; stir well over ice cubes in a Collins glass, garnish with a celery stalk and serve (cough!  ouch!).

Failing any of these “cures,” a well-placed ball-peen hammer to the forehead can work wonders.