Travel: Global Agenda

New York

According to curator Richard Martin, the theme of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Our New Clothes: Acquisitions of the 1990s exhibition, is "the best-of-the-best fashion as we have acquired it over the past decade". It revives a tradition of the Met's Costume Institute from the 1930s and 1940s by giving the museum a chance to display items that have been recently added to its collection. Sponsored by 's fashion temple, Barneys - which will be mounting a window display based on the exhibition - the show is built around motifs such as "American Heroes", featuring designers Geoffrey Beene, Calvin Klein and Giorgio di Sant'Angelo. Those looking for inspiration on how to where a white dress (one of this season's must- haves) should start in the fifth gallery which is entirely devoted to the subject: examples range from 1800 through Victorian times to the present day.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue, , USA (00 1 212 535 7710) from 6 April-22 August, suggested donation $10

Holland

The National Museums' Weekend, organised by the Dutch Museum Pass Foundation, is proving a popular incentive to hot foot it across the North Sea. Now in its 19th year, the goal is to encourage those who would never usually set foot in a museum to come in and see what they've been missing. More than 550 museums will be taking part in the event this year and at least two thirds will be waiving entrance fees for the weekend, the remainder offering a discount.

Various venues (00 31 20 670 1111) 10-11 April

Sheffield

Although best known for cutlery (pictured), the designer David Mellor is also responsible for design concepts behind everyday street furniture as pillar boxes and traffic lights. The Real David Mellor: Master Metalworker, a major retrospective at Sheffield's Mappin Art Gallery, seeks to reveal why, in a profession noted for the ephemeral nature of its "stars", Mellor has attained a lasting appeal. One reason for his success is his functional approach to design, which has not only produced such modern classics as his 1953 "Pride" range of cutlery but also the award-winning Round Building in Hathersage near Sheffield.

Mappin Art Gallery, 101 Norfolk Street, Sheffield (0114 203 9416) from today until 20 June, closed Mon and Tue, free

Finland

A reindeer isn't just for the Christmas run. Competitive Finns have been attaching sleighs to their native mammals all through the winter in order to be up to speed for this weekend's big event. The Reindeer Kingship Cup is the highlight of a racing programme that is now in its 48th year. If you join the spectators in Inari, make sure you take some loose cash so that you can place a bet.

Inari, Finland (Finnish Tourist Board: 0171-839 4048) today and tomorrow

Sharon Gethings