CELEBRATE 2000!; ENTERTAIN IN STYLE NOW THROUGH NEW YEAR WITH CHIC TABLE-TOP WARE.

Byline: Natalie Haughton Food Editor

Millennium mania has begun. Take a stroll through major department, discount, home, party and wine stores, and you'll feast on a glitzy array of products - from china and serving dishes to candles, wine glasses, party goods, foods and wines - all geared to celebrate 2000.

New items seem to be cropping up almost daily, and consumers are snapping them up to use in entertaining now through the first of the year, or to keep as mementos and remembrances of the year (and pass down to children and grandchildren). The items range from simple, reasonably priced but glamorous-looking tableware to more elaborate and expensive items such as crystal flutes, fancy gold china plates, crystal wine buckets and more. You'll also find several new-century patterns in inexpensive paper items, including plates, cups, tablecloths, table decorations, napkins and candles.

``The reason 2000 party goods are hitting stores now is that consumer feedback says `I want the goods now' - earlier than ever - so I can start celebrating,'' according to Kathi Mishek, a Hallmark spokeswoman in Kansas City, Missouri. Research indicates that people will be throwing a variety of parties celebrating the millennium before the end of '99 and into January 2000, she added. ``Consumers tell us they they will be going to more parties outside the home this year.''

Many companies have jumped on the 2000 bandwagon, and an amazing variety of products have popped up, Mishek said. ``Consumers are definitely going to celebrate during the holidays with 2000-designated products.'' They may mix and match paper goods or china with dishes and other items already in their collections to keep the budget in check. There are plenty of options in both colors and materials.

Paper goods tend to follow the season's fashion colors more closely than china, because they can be manufactured more quickly, noted Mishek.

``All color trends this year have indicated that people want jewel tones - purples, red, greens, sapphire blue - really intense and cozy colors.'' So Hallmark's 2000 party-collection design features a bright foil-line blue. Since character marketing is also trendy, Hallmark is offering ``Mil-Looney-Um'' 2000 paper goods featuring Looney Tunes characters.

For 2000, American Greetings has created a millennial color palette that includes white, silver and purple in its Celebrate 2000 line of paper products (including party goods, ribbons, candles, balloons, gift bags, etc.), said Deanna Heuschel, the company's event planner in Cleveland. ``The color purple is making a comeback as a hot, new color in hues such as eggplant, amethyst and lilac. Purple is a New Age color, has a religious background and is rich, regal and historical; kings and queens wore it.''

Heuschel advises consumers to begin planning their millennium parties early and to select a theme, such as a time-capsule party or a costume-party celebration of the old and new.

Olga Krasnoff, senior interior designer at Macy's Mission Valley interior design studio in San Diego, thinks people are already looking at and buying millennial items. ``People are already thinking about how they are going to entertain for New Year's and about the type of party they are going to give.'' Create a mood for a successful party, she advised.

She believes three major entertaining and interior-design directions that are in vogue will continue into the year 2000 - drawing-room glamour, country charisma and Asian contemporary - will influence party decisions.

But whatever they decide, said Krasnoff, ``a lot of people will be staying at home and entertaining at home. There's already a resurgence of entertaining at home - and enjoying the home and family and friends more.''

Krasnoff suggests making some favorite food and buying the rest. ``I do a combination, as I have to make certain traditional cookies that my family remembers from childhood. Tradition, memories and nostalgia are extremely important to me.''

You can hire a caterer if your budget allows. Or if an Asian theme is your choice, serve takeout Chinese food. There are plenty of other to-go options depending on the party theme.

``Food served at a beautifully set table always tastes better,'' emphasized Krasnoff, who specializes in creating great, interesting tablescapes (she's not big on flowers) that generally cost less than the flowers you'd otherwise order. Look around your home, and with a little imagination you can turn your favorite things - paperweights, Limoges boxes, cloisonne or small glass vases or pitchers, framed pictures, etc. - into a smashing tablescape that will create conversation at your dinner or buffet table.

If you're planning a holiday table using gold, go around the house and collect all the gold items you have - clocks, watches, picture frames, candles, etc. For a New Year's bash, a whole collection of clocks all set to midnight would be a fun table decoration.

Krasnoff offers these tips for a great tablescape.

``Ground your collection by placing the objects on palm leaves, sand, moss, pebbles, fabric or perhaps a mirror.'' Use risers (acrylic, boxes, etc.) to create different heights and levels, but be sure you can see over them when seated. If you opt for using candles of different sizes, be sure they are unscented to avoid competing with the flavors in the meal, advises Krasnoff. Beautiful fabrics placed loosely around your treasures makes a lovely presentation. Accessorize with place cards and napkin rings. Place cards attached to holiday ornaments are great party favors and keepsakes. Or use individual miniature gold or silver frames or small boxes, hand-painted to match the decor with guests' names.

``Bedsheets make fun and impromptu tablecloths,'' says Krasnoff. ``Chargers (charger plates are larger than dinner plates and are used underneath dinner or salad plates as a service or base plate) change the scene, adding excitement, color and style. Your guests should never stare at a blank table. Your table makes the final statement on the quality of your life.''

Krasnoff believes it's going to be a gala 2000 and thinks people will celebrate throughout the year - not just for a single day.

It's not too early to get in the spirit of 2000 and start celebrating. There are plenty of tableware and food possibilities to help make the festivities creative and fun.

Making it look like a millennium bash

Following is a list of the items featured in the color Celebrate 2000 photo on Page 1.

Champagne 2000 Chateau Metro Vintage candle, bottled-shaped, handcrafted, long-burning, unscented, $15, at Macy's.

Charter Club gold star candle, unscented, $18, at Macy's.

The Cellar Spiral Candle, gold and silver, unscented, $15, at Macy's.

The Cellar gold and white 2000 mug, $8.50, at Macy's.

Cristal d'Arques 2000 Millennium pair of candle holders with two long gold candles, $19.99, at Macy's.

Cristal d'Arques 2000 Millennium pair of champagne flutes, $19.99, at Macy's.

The Cellar gold and silver 2000 plate, salad-size, $8.50, at Macy's.

Royal Gallery Gold Buffet 2000 Millennium-1999 Happy New Year plate, salad-size, $25, at Macy's.

Royal Gallery Gold Buffet Celebrate Millennium-Happy New Year clock plate, salad-size, $50, at Macy's.

The Cellar white with gold polka dots plate, dinner-size, $8.50, at Macy's.

The Cellar white with gold border plate, dinner-size, $7.50, at Macy's.

The Cellar Pillar Candle 1999-2000, silver and gold, handcrafted, long-burning, unscented, $15, at Macy's.

A Touch of Gold Millennium Glitter 2000 Stem Flutes, plastic with gold star base, set of four, $20, at Robinsons-May.

Color adds to the celebration

Celebrate in colorful style with the following party goods pictured above.

Hallmark Party Express 2000 Party Invitations, eight invitations with envelopes, $3.99.

Hallmark Party Express 2000 Wire Garland with stars, $2.49.

Hallmark Party Express 2000 Party Horns, eight paper horns, $4.59.

Hallmark Party Express 2000 Plates, eight salad-size paper plates, $3.29.

Hallmark Party Express 2000 Cups, eight (14-ounce) plastic cups, $2.59.

Hallmark Party Express Looney Tunes Cups Mil-Looney-Um 2000, eight (9-ounce) paper cups, $1.99.

Hallmark Party Express Looney Tunes Plates, Cosmic Looney, eight salad-size paper plates, $2.95.

DesignWare Celebrate 2000 paper liquor gift bag, $3.

DesignWare Celebrate 2000 Plastic Tablecover Cheers to 2000, 54 by 96 inches, $4.

DesignWare Party Essentials Celebrate 2000 napkins, 16 each of two designs of cocktail-size paper napkins, $5.

DesignWare Celebrate 2000 Hot/Cold Cups Cheers to 2000, eight (9-ounce) paper cups, $2.50.

DesignWare Celebrate 2000 Dessert Plates Cheers to 2000, eight paper plates, $3.

DesignWare Celebrate 2000 Dinner Plates Cheers to 2000, eight paper small-size dinner plates, $4.

DesignWare Celebrate 2000 Adult Party Hats, eight paper hats, $5.

DesignWare Celebrate 2000 Party Horns, eight paper horns, $5.

DesignWare Celebrate 2000 Cascade Centerpiece, paper and foil, $5.

American Greetings Guild House Cheers to 2000 Years glass candle with lid, $11.99.

American Greetings Guild House Metallic Candle, silver, 4-inch pillar $7.50; 6-inch pillar $7.50.

Amscan Guest Towels Millennium Celebration, 16 (three-ply) paper towels, $4.29, at Party America, Woodland Hills.

Amscan Plates Happy 2000, eight dinner-size paper plates, $3.99, at Party America, Woodland Hills.

Anagram 2000 Happy New Year balloon and other millennium metallic balloons range from $2.99 to $6.99, at places carrying American Greetings products.

Gold star wire garland, $1.19, at Party America, Woodland Hills.

The American Greetings DesignWare and Guild House products are available at selected Rite Aid, Target, Kmart, Ralphs and Food for Less stores. For a store in your area, call [phone].

Hallmark products are available at Hallmark Stores, Savon and other selected stores.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, 2 Boxes

Photo: (1--Color) There's a blitz of millennial goods available now at major department and discount stores.

Items pictured courtesy of Macy's Fashion Square, Sherman Oaks

(2--Color) Party shops and other stores are offering an array of 2000-patterned paper goods for ushering in the New Year.

Photos by David R. Crane/Staff Photographer

Box: (1) Making it look like a millennium celebration (See text)

(2) Color adds to the New Year's celebration (See text)