Taj Boston General Manager David Gibbons, left, and Woburn Foreign Motors Vice President George Martell, right, with New England Patriots Wide Receiver Wes Welker. (Photo courtesy of Caron Le Brun)

It's being called "A Marriage of Luxury" for Woburn Jaguar and the Taj Boston Hotel.

Taj Boston General Manager David Gibbons and Woburn Foreign Motors Vice President George Martell, along with special guest New England Patriots Wide Receiver Wes Welker, recently announced the official partnership of Taj Boston and Woburn Jaguar, as well as the appointment of the 2008-2009 Jaguar XJ as the official courtesy vehicle of the hotel.

Also unveiled were several exciting opportunities for customers of Woburn Jaguar and guests of Taj Boston.

Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and Jaguar are both owned by Tata Group, India's premier business house.

Tina Ambani Elected to Board at Peabody Essex Museum

The Peabody Essex Museum recently announced the election of Tina Ambani to its Board of Trustees. Ms. Ambani is recognized as a leading force in India for the promotion of modern and contemporary Indian art and artists.

"Tina Ambani's passionate commitment to traditional, modern, and contemporary Indian art makes her an ideal person to serve as PEM's first international trustee," said Richard Carlson, Chairman of the Board.

Tina Ambani is the founder of the Harmony Art Foundation, an institution that supports India's emerging and established artists. The Foundation's yearly contemporary art show presents young, upcoming talent with that of acknowledged masters, and is the largest of its kind in the country. Over the past 13 years, the Harmony Art Foundation has showcased the work of nearly 1,500 artists and has attracted more than a half million visitors.

A former "Bollywood" movie star, Ambani (then known as Tina Munim) put her career on hold to pursue her education in the U.S. Upon her return to India, she married the industrialist Anil Ambani, with whom she has two sons. A graduate of the Los Angeles Institute of Interior Design, Mrs. Ambani has been on the board of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, and the National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai. She has also served on the reconstituted General Assembly of the India Council for Cultural Relations, India's pre- eminent agency for cultural exchange.

The Peabody Essex Museum began collecting Indian art in 1799 and is singular among American museums in its continuing commitment to collecting and presenting the work of modern and contemporary Indian artists. In addition to its three galleries dedicated to Indian art, the museum presents a constantly changing array of exhibitions, publications, education, and public programs dedicated to engendering increased appreciation of Indian art and culture.

For more information about the Peabody Essex Museum, visit www.pem.org.

Free Chrysanthemum Show at Smith College

The Botanic Garden of Smith College in Northampton will host a "Fall Chrysanthemum Show: Celebrating Asian Culture in Flower, Fabric, and Flavor" from Saturday, November 1-Sunday, November 16. The event is free and open to the public daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

We are told that "Floral fireworks will be erupting inside Smith College's Lyman Conservatory during the annual event."

An even more extravagant display than Smith's well-known Spring Bulb Show, the exhibit includes oversized blooms in unexpected shapes and colors, some reaching 8 inches in diameter and perched atop plants up to 5-7 feet tall.

In addition to the stunning floral display, the show will feature Japanese kimonos and bamboo. Student chrysanthemum artwork will enliven the gallery walls.

Events will include tea tastings, a Japanese tea ceremony, basketry demonstrations, and much more.

For more information, call 413-585-2740 or visit www.smith.edu/garden/Home/events.html.

Holiday Children's Teas Scheduled for Gore Place

Gore Place, the historic Governor Gore estate in Waltham, will offer a "Holiday Children's Tea" on Saturday, December 6 and 13. For this special event, the Great Hall of the mansion will be transformed into a 19th century tea room offering a special children's menu, entertainments and a visit from Santa.

There will be one seating each day at 10:30 a.m. Tickets must be purchased at least one week in advance. For details and more information, call 781-894-2798 or visit www.goreplace.org.

The early 18oos estate of Massachusetts Governor Christopher Gore includes a small farm with sheep, goats and poultry. With its spiral staircase, marble floors and oval rooms, the elegantly furnished mansion has been called "the Monticello of the North," and architectural historians consider it to be the most significant Federal period mansion in New England.

Gore Place is located at 52 Gore Street, just off Route 20 (Main Street) near the Waltham/Watertown line.

Enjoy!

In addition to events covered and reported by the columnist, "The Scene..." 
is compiled from various other sources such as news releases, PRNewswire services, etc.

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