El Mitote

| The New Mexican

8/23/2008 - 8/24/08

Maggie Gyllenhaal, indie fave and current Dark Knight star, was out and about Thursday with her daughter, the almost-2-year-old Ramona. Gyllenhaal and her tot were spotted at the Santa Fe Children's Museum, enjoying a bit of face-painting. Peter Sarsgaard, Maggie's significant other and Ramona's daddy, was with them, according to our tipster. She is currently filming Crazy Heart, which also stars Jeff Bridges. It's a story about a journalist (Gyllenhaal) who helps a down-and-out country star (that would be Bridges) grab his career back.

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Another star of the movie, Robert Duvall, was out enjoying lunch at Tomasita's last Monday. He reportedly had the chicken tostada salad and a diet Coke. He also was seen at a certain resort bar out in Tesuque. Duvall's acting career is unparalleled, ranging from Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird to Lt. Col. Kilgore in Apocalypse Now and his quintessential Westerner, Gus McCrae in Lonesome Dove. While in town filming, we wouldn't be surprised if Duvall spends some time with Santa Fe resident, buddy and fellow actor Gene Hackman, a friend since struggling actor days in New York.


Pause for applause: Toy Auto Man — a favorite of the Toyota-driving crowd — was featured in the August Motor Age Magazine shop profile. It's quite an honor, considering that thousands of shops nationwide vie to be one of the 12 profiled each year. The shop is
owned by Stephen and Claudia Inoue.


Retiring Sen. Pete Domenici was honored by a bipartisan fan club at the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation's Aug. 15 banquet at Ohkay Casino Resort near Española. Speakers included New Mexico House Speaker Ben Luján, contender for Domenici's senate seat U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, and Jill Cooper, wife of Pearce's opponent, U.S. Rep. Tom Udall.


In a speech he gave after watching a slide show of some of the many building projects in Northern New Mexico that he helped fund, Domenici said, "It's fun to give money away, isn't it? It's more fun if you put it in the right places!"


What a tip! Renee Zellweger, who's been in town recently for My One and Only (thus the MOO signs all over town), reportedly left a $100 tip at La Boca earlier this month. That's courtesy of Page Six in New York. The film also stars Kevin Bacon and mostly was shot in Baltimore. It's a comedy, and Zellweger plays a glamorous mom looking for a wealthy man to help care for her and her kids. She searches by taking, what else, a road trip. Based on a recollection of actor George Hamilton, Logan Lerman plays the young George. Among the suitors are Chris Noth and Steven Weber.


Kumar comes to Santa Fe, only for a serious reason. Kal Penn, who stars in the Harold and Kumar flicks, was at Casa Solana Shopping Center last Thursday seeking votes with Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean. It was part of a Register for Change bus tour. Also on board was L.A. Laker Derek Fisher.

It's Indian Market weekend. Send your news and star sightings to elmitote@sfnewmexican.com.