Seen dining out at the Compound on Aug. 24, were Kathy L'Amour, wife of the Western novelist Louis L'Amour, Carol Lee Ladd Veitch, daughter of actor Alan Ladd and wife of the late John Veitch, with Spanish Market award-winning artist Lawrence Baca and his wife, Maria. When market's not in session, Baca's work can be found at Packard's on the Plaza.

One of Santa Fe's flame workers and jewelry designers, Donna Nova, has been chosen to participate — along with Elodie Holmes, glass worker and owner of Liquid Light Glass — in a show with Dale Chihuly, of Chihuly Studios, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) in Albuquerque. Both women have items on display and for sale at the NHCC event through the end of October.

Oscar winner Gene Hackman might be through with acting, but he's keeping busy with writing. His latest, Payback at Morning Peak, is a Western set — where else? New Mexico! He said to Time magazine earlier this summer. "We live in Santa Fe, N.M. I see film crews on the side of the road sometimes, but normally I don't stop. I did stop once, though. A young assistant director was directing traffic. I pulled up next to her and asked her if they were hiring any extras. She said, 'no, I'm very sorry, sir.'"

Demian and Alex Vazquez (of D&A Brothers Corp.) won an Industry Choice Award for "Best Men's Designer" at Austin Fashion Week 2011. They are local boys (sons of Char, of Char Design).

Santa Fe Prep graduate Alex Wirth is writing for huffingtonpost.com. He's a regular contributor to the Top of their Class blog.

At Indian Market, cartoonist Ricardo Caté — whose New Mexican strip features a blond soldier some say resembles George Armstrong Custer — said to library boss Pat Hodapp, "Guess who was just here? Descendants of General Custer!" Asked about it, Caté writes, "I welcomed them to my booth, gave them hugs and took pictures. " The market-goers identified themselves as great-great-great-great nieces and nephews of the general.

Also dining out late last month, at Luminaria, were Valerie Plame Wilson and her husband, Joe, with two other guests.

Send sightings to elmitote@sfnewmexican.com.