A week from now, many of us will be hurting and these fireworks won’t look so cool.

Instead of sipping warm beverages in front of a Christmas tree, or simply enjoying a lovely day off, brutal New Year’s hangovers will bring the nation to a crawl. Gripped by headaches and exhaustion, it will be all the party people can do to roll out of bed and into comfortable clothes. Mimosas may be a good idea, or maybe not — New Year’s Eve tends to kill champagne cravings if one isn’t careful.

Yes, Thursday is New Year’s Eve, and it seems like the whole city will be partying. Downtown will be wall-to-wall craziness, with nearly every bar and club hosting an event, and two fireworks shows (at 9 p.m. and midnight) blasting Denver into 2010.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel (1881 Curtis St.) is the glamorous new site for the annual White Rose Gala, now in its eighth year.

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Ever had a “Kobayashi” burger? Didn’t think so.

Lots of small restaurants in Denver cover a range of cuisines, but few make it a point of pride to trumpet such country-hopping on their menu. Not so the Krameria Cafe, a charming room on the northwest corner of East 14th Avenue and Krameria Street.

With a menu billed as a mix of Mediterranean, Mexican and American fare, the restaurant serves the Mayfair and Park Hill neighborhoods.

Like at most cafes, breakfast takes a star turn. Fans of starch-meets-sweet can savor mixed-berry pancakes, French toast and a cinnamon loaf. Egg dishes feature the advertised Med-Mex-American meld, from gyros and eggs to huevos rancheros to Southern-fried chicken and eggs. There are also items you don’t see in every diner, including chilaquiles and a zippy salsa made of roasted pasilla chiles.

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If Denver’s upcoming Beauty Bar does as well as other locations, the Mile High City is in for another treasured hipster hangout.

Heads up, nightlife denizens: A Denver location of the groovy Beauty Bar chain is in the works. It’s taking over the former Snake Pit space at 608 E. 13th Ave., and it’ll be quite a change from the Snake Pit days of yore.

The Snake Pit was a place to drink seriously and listen to loud dance music while surrounded by an unpredictable assortment of misfits. If other Beauty Bar locations are an indication, Denver’s Beauty Bar is destined to be a favored hipster hangout.

That’s right — we’re talking tallboys of PBR, DJ nights and cool, kitschy decor. None of these things is bad, of course; they’re just hallmarks of the hipster invasion to come.

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Intermission Cafe, a 7-month-old deli between Glenarm and Tremont on 17th, fulfills a serious need in central downtown.

Downtown Denver’s steely spine isn’t exactly known as a culinary destination. Despite a few mainstay restaurants and delis along 17th Street, workers often need to head a block or two in either direction to fill their bellies.

Intermission Cafe, a 7-month-old deli between Glenarm and Tremont on 17th, could easily escape notice, but like many of Denver’s most unassuming eateries, it rewards a closer look.

The place does brisk breakfast business, lines snaking around a wooden island topped with baked goods. The spinach and feta omelette ($5.49) hints at an upscale bent, but there are also solid huevos rancheros ($5.29), a Denver omelette ($5.49) and simple biscuits and gravy ($2.29).

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The Denver Center for the Performing Arts may be your ultimate destination, but there are plenty of places to stop off before the show.

For many theatergoers, preshow drinks are a ritual that must be performed. It’s the best way to meet up with friends, take a breather and get in the right frame of mind for showtime. At the Denver Performing Arts Complex there’s no shortage of places to grab a preshow beverage. There are bars within the complex, bars up and down the street, bars in the theaters themselves.

But which bar fits the mood? Across 14th Street from the theaters, The Corner Office (1401 Curtis St.) is reliably packed on big show nights. Arrive at the wrong time and your getting a table is nearly impossible. The bar area is typically stuffed, as well. It’s good for the Office people, bad for frazzled theater patrons who just need a quiet drink and casual conversation before heading into a performance.

Just up the street, Baur’s Ristorante (1512 Curtis St.) is another popular place to imbibe within sight of the theater complex. Sam’s No. 3 (1500 Curtis St.) is great for folks who want to knock back Buds and a burger.

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