The hot spot: Eating out at Tia Sophia's on Wednesday after the dress rehearsal for The Santa Fe Opera's production of Le nozze di Figaro the night before were soprano Susanna Phillips and violinist Jennie Baccante. Phillips is playing the role of Countess Almaviva in the delicious Mozart opera, the company's second production of this summer season. Falstaff opened the opera season Friday night, with Figaro's opening night Saturday. Waiting on the operatic duo was none other than blues musician Alex Maryol, whose family owns the restaurant.


More Tia's: Families who went downtown for the 59th Rodeo de Santa Fe Parade on Saturday weren't the only ones who stopped into Tia Sophia's for a bite of local cuisine. Among them was the ever-attractive Debbie Reynolds, whose daughter Carrie Fisher was appearing across the street at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in a show called Wishful Drinking, billed as "an uproarious and sobering look at her Hollywood hangover."

From the stage: Graham Nash, of Crosby, Stills and Nash gave a shout-out to fellow '60s survivor Lisa Law during the band's concert at Sandia Resort and Casino last week. Nash called out to his longtime friend from the stage, describing the photographer a "real trouper." Law's photographs of 1960s culture — whether at a commune in Northern New Mexico or at Woodstock in New York or on the streets of San Francisco — gained her a worldwide following. She has continued a distinguished photography career, documenting history where she finds it while staying true to her activist roots. She lives off-the-grid in a house overlooking both the Sangre de Cristos and the Rio Grande.

The driver's seat: A passer-by phoned La Mitotera last Friday to describe a traffic tie-up at Paseo de Peralta and Palace. Evidently, she said, a photo shoot was in the works. To her, it appeared that none other than Mickey Rourke and his classic convertible were in the picture.


The secret's out: Lovely Tesuque was the subject of a full page in a recent Sunset Magazine, writes Sandy Green. "Mentioned in this 'Southwest day trip' are Fisher Tinworks, Glenn Green Galleries and Sculpture Gardens, Shidoni Foundry, El Nido Restaurant, Tesuque Village Market and the Pueblo of Tesuque Flea Market. It is, she writes, "great coverage of a charming community."

The article makes note of the reality that art is a way of life in the village. "Take the community's main gathering place, Tesuque Village Market, where, along with a fine wine collection and fresh empanadas, you'll find a gallery showcasing Santa Fe-area artists. Green's business, Glenn Green Galleries, is singled out for its "museum-quality modern art."


Local musician Gary Gorence will celebrate the release of his new CD (Blue Farm Records) next Sunday (Aug. 3) at 8 p.m. at the Cowgirl. You can learn more about Gorence's debut CD, Desert Trippin', at garygorence.webs.com. You can see Gorence playing around Santa Fe with The Jakes or in his solo acoustic sets.


Who was who at opening night at the Santa Fe Opera? Send your sightings to elmitote@sfnewmexican.com.