The world lost a screen legend when Oscar-winning star Elizabeth Taylor died last week. In 2001, she won the Taos Talking Picture Festival's Maverick Award and visited Taos, where her brother, Howard, has been a longtime resident.


Brunch on Monday at the Tune-Up Café was extra special last week. Enjoying their meal outside were actor Owen Wilson, his baby, Robert Ford Wilson, his girlfriend, Jade Duell, and his mother, (photographer Laura Cunningham Wilson). He was reading The New York Times. "Everyone was buzzing, but he was very low-key," writes our spotter. Wilson, who grew up in Dallas, is no stranger to New Mexico — he attended the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell.


We have the answer to Armand Assante's mysterious presence on the Santa Fe Plaza last week. He was shopping during a trip to town to film a public-service announcement for the state Children, Youth and Families Department's new child-abuse hotline, #SAFE. The spot, which was directed by Santa Fe's own Emmy Award-winning Doug Crawford, was filmed at Algodones Elementary School. Assisting Crawford were David Aubrey, director of photography for Lightningwood Films, James Becker, audio, and Svetlana Britt doing makeup. Heading up the project for CYFD was Betsy Model of the Zephyr Group in Placitas. Spot-makers offered special thanks to Laura Greenleaf, principal at Algodones Elementary, and all the great kids from Algodones and San Felipe Pueblo who helped with video. The PSA is in English and Spanish, and will begin airing throughout New Mexico shortly.


Seen around the Plaza this past weekend: Jon Spencer of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, along with his wife, Cristina Martinez, of the band Boss Hog, and their son. They were in town enjoying the sights with Cristina's cousin, Santa Fean Chris Martinez, and his partner, Jeff Fenton.


Santa Fe's Valerie Plame Wilson was back in The New York Times again on spy business. Only this time, the Times was talking about Plame's venture into spy novels, not her own spy experiences. The ex-CIA agent has a deal with Penguin Group USA to write a series of international suspense novels. She is writing with best-selling mystery author Sarah Lovett, also of Santa Fe. Fictional operative Vanessa Pearson is at the center of the books. Plame, calling in to the Times from Santa Fe, says most protagonists "tend to be cardboard characters, with a heavy reliance on physicality. Of course the job has a lot of glamour. But it really is about being smarter than your average bear. Your mind is your best weapon. It's great when you're a good shot with an AK-47, but it's about being clever."


Eddie Tafoya, who by day teaches English literature at New Mexico Highlands University and by night is a stand-up comic, was recently mentioned in a blog for Albuquerque The Magazine. He and producer/director Mike Mastrangelo were discussing the Duke City Comedy League, a showcase for New Mexico stand-up comedy airing on My-50 TV Saturdays at midnight. "It is listed on IMDB and just won the honor of being the ninth Best TV Series to debut in 2010 on IMDB. Mike says it even beat out Conan's new show," writes Gena LaCross, whose blog can be read at www.abqthemag.com/atmwpblog/?m=20110320.


Santa Fean Dick Kamp was featured in the Wall Street Journal's Second Acts, a series that looks at the paths people are taking in their 50s and after. Kamp, a longtime environmental activist, has added environmental reporting for Wicks Communications to his portfolio. He is perhaps one of the few people ever to say, "I'm a journalist to pay the bills." You can read the full article by Kristi Essick at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704329104576138280168577972.html.


Rachelle Lefevre, once famously of the Twilight movie series, was spotted taking a yoga class Sunday at Body. Her tweet on March 21: "I'm loving Santa Fe, NM! Some fave spots: Vinaigrette, Geronimo, Body, The Flea(market), Zoe & Guido, Aztec Café, Ten Thousand Waves!" She is shooting the NBC pilot Reconstruction, about America's post-Civil War era. It also stars Emma Bell and Martin Henderson and is directed by Peter Horton (of thirtysomething acting fame). Josh Brand (a co-creator of St. Elsewhere) is the writer.

Send sightings to elmitote@sfnewmexican.com.