Actress Betty White in Town Saturday

Thursday, October 14, 2010

 

Actress Betty White will be making a guest appearance this weekend at two events sponsored by Binns of Williamsburg, and there are still a few chances to catch a glimpse of her.

 

 

Best known for her role in the sitcom “The Golden Girls” and more recently for being the oldest person to host “Saturday Night Live” after a spirited Facebook campaign to get her there, Emmy-winner White will be visiting Binns to benefit her pet cause, animal welfare.

Binns carries a line of handmade, glass animal ornaments called “The Pet Set,” which White has endorsed for years. A portion of the ornament sales goes to a worldwide animal welfare and research group called The Morris Animal Foundation.

Since White agreed to Binns’ request to come sign ornaments on Saturday afternoon and participate in a gala dinner and auction event afterwards, the store’s assistant CEO Tom Smith has been working on making the event a success.

White will arrive at the store at 12:30 p.m. on a carriage, with the “full red-carpet treatment,” according to Smith.

The list of folks who want to get an ornament signed by White is already so long, Smith has started a second list for ordering pre-signed ornaments. White will be at the store until 5 p.m., at which time she’ll leave to get ready for the evening event.

White’s nighttime black-tie gala will include dinner at the Williamsburg Lodge and a decadent dessert cake created by Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes” bakery gang at Charm City Cakes. The reality show film crew will be taping the cake presentation Saturday, which will air later on the Food Network.

The gala will also feature a silent and live auction with items including a gold record from music legend Sir Elton John, tickets to the Westminster dog show, a $1,500 shopping spree at Binns and two tickets to one of the tapings of the Oprah Winfrey Show’s final season.

“We’re very excited,” says Smith. “[White] is so popular, and appealing to all age groups.”

White’s mainstream popularity has grown tremendously over the last year. After White appeared in a " target="_blank">funny Super Bowl TV ad for Snickers candy bars, more than a half-million signed a Facebook petition to have the octogenarian host “Saturday Night Live,” which she did in May. Then the former "Golden Girls" star was signed to a sitcom, “Hot in Cleveland,” which debuted in May and was picked up for a second season.

Aside from White, David Matthews, the 29 year-old who launched the Facebook campaign to get the actress on SNL, will also be on hand at the event Saturday, according to Smith.

To help the crowd during their wait, the Trellis Restaurant (newly revamped by Chef David Everett) will be selling gourmet brown bag lunches, and vendors will be nearby selling Betty White tee-shirts and Joy To The World Collectibles merchandise.

Tickets are still available for the black tie gala for $195 per ticket or $155 with purchase of an ornament. All proceeds go to Morris Animal Foundation. To buy tickets call Binns at 229-3391; for details visit the BettyAtBinns website.