Lou Diamond Phillips' win on NBC's I'm a Celebrity competition also proved to be a win for the Amado and J.B. Peña Art Has Heart Foundation and the St. Pius X High School foundation. Phillips had admired artist Amado Peña Jr.'s work before meeting him, and the two became friends on the 1988 set of Young Guns in New Mexico. As a result, Phillips has contributed to the annual Art Has Heart fundraiser, leading to more than 300 students receiving college art scholarships over 12 years. Peña and his wife, J.B., live in Santa Fe.

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Last Tuesday, one of the men who lunched at popular Harry's Roadhouse was none other than local and Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman.

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Spotted: Dennis Hopper brought his family (wife, mother-in-law and daughter) to the Santa Fe Opera's final dress rehearsal of La Traviata June 29. Hopper is starring in the made-in-New-Mexico TV show Crash, as well as participating in many events for Taos' Summer of Love celebration. This year's opera season opened Friday and continues until Aug. 29.

Making his operatic debut this season was Paul Horpedahl, the opera's remarkable production director, who oversees every aspect of every production from backstage. Horpedahl debuted as the priest, driving a Vespa in The Elixir of Love, the very funny comic opera that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser this summer.

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Writer Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez of Albuquerque is busy these days getting ready for the launch of her sixth book, The Husband Habit, coming out Tuesday. It's her first novel set entirely in New Mexico, Valdes-Rodriguez's home state. She's touring the state's restaurants to promote the book, and you can catch her in Las Vegas, Chimayó, Taos and Los Alamos later this month on the northern portion of her tour. Find out more about the book, the writer and her observations on life by friending her on Facebook.

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Simon Pegg, in Santa Fe to film his latest, Paul, isn't letting his recent blockbuster success turn his head. He told an interviewer in Zoo magazine that he won't be moving to Hollywood anytime soon. "It's very easy to knock L.A. because it is very image-driven, but it is also a very friendly place in most areas ... If was in L.A. right now, I'd be down at the King's Head in Santa Monica, sipping a few beers — there is a cool British community, but I wouldn't want to go and live over there — my family and friends are all still in north London." Pegg played Montgomery Scott in this summer's Star Trek prequel, but is beloved by teen boys everywhere for his Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz flicks.

Pegg and several of the actors from Paul took in the Santa Fe Rodeo earlier this month, evidently coming into contact with a Frito pie for the first time.

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Actor Sam Elliott spotted at Tesuque Village Market on a Friday earlier this month, enjoying a cup of coffee with Carl, the popular waiter from Tía Sophía's downtown.

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Santa Fe Indian Market has yet another fun wrinkle this year. The folks at the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts report that Sam Hazous is the official Indian Market blogger. More formally, Hazous is the Official Indian Market Online Correspondent, writing from a "candid insider's perspective." As the grandson of Allan and Anna Marie Houser, son of Bob Hazous and attendee at Indian Market since 1973, we're sure Hazous will have plenty of interesting insights to offer.

He writes, "Consider the fact that not only am I an insider, I've also got the Native humor down, so if a tourist asks me directions and I point with my lips ... deal with it."

Send your news, happenings and star sightings to elmitote@sfnewmexican.com.