Tonight in Santa Fe - Zozobra!

Tonight is the night that the 48 ft. Zozobra marionette is burned in a huge bon fire with almost a third of the town watching. For weeks people have been sending in their worries and concerns that will be placed inside Zozobra and burned away. Last year 18,000 people attended and this year over 20,000 people are expected. For a town of only 68,000, that's a really good turn out. If you are like me and just don't want to deal with the traffic - this year you can watch it over the internet at www.santafenm.gov or www.kob.com .
Also, going on - Shirley McLaine, the actress, has donated a huge selection of her Hollywood type clothes to be auctioned off tomorrow from 4-7pm at Zoe and Guido's Pet Boutique in Santa Fe. The money will be used for animal causes that she supports. Ms McLaine has a ranch in Abiquiu (Georgia O'Keefe country about 30 minutes north of Santa Fe) and also a house in northeastern Santa Fe.
And speaking of actors - Robert Redford is building a house in Teseque (about 10 min north of Santa Fe). He is sponsoring a film institute and festival similar to his Sundance Film festival. In Santa Fe he will focus on young Native Americans and Hispanics in the film industry.
Recent visiting actors include Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker eating dinner at the Cowgirl restaurant while they were here filming a movie and also Julia Roberts who was here filming "Love, Eat, Pray." She actually lives in Taos, the beautiful city and ski resort about 45 minutes north of Santa Fe.
Actors and movie types will now have an easier time getting from LA to Santa Fe with a new air service that will specialize in that route. Our airport is so small that we don't have any commercial airlines stopping here. (Friends who visit me have to fly into Albuquerque and then drive the 50 minute trip north to Santa Fe.)
There is so much movie activity here that I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner.