Inscribed Cotton from Yemen

It is hard to believe that the intricately decorated cotton hangings that make up this new show at the Textile Museum were produced in the 9th and 10th centuries, since their ink-drawn patterns and gilded edges seem as neat as something produced on a Macintosh computer. In addition to the religious invocations and elegies the words of these artifacts present, the show focuses on the patterns the words create, as well as the amazing craft of the weavers and goldsmiths that all contributed to this unusual and often breathtaking art.

Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?

This new exhibition leads visitors of all ages through three decades of television's pioneering 'Sesame Street'. Kids can sit in a bus shelter and watch the very first episode that aired in 1969 and travel a timeline through 'Sesame Street' and American history by visiting Gina's Day Care Center, Oscar's Newsstand and Bird Air Travel Agency. There's a Muppet Museum Gallery and videos of famous guests such as Paul Simon, Ray Charles and Whoopi Goldberg. Sesame Street characters Cookie Monster, Grover and Ernie will greet Navy Pier visitors on Saturdays during February.

Sacred and Profane Visions from Renaissance Venice

Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum devotes itself to exploring the classic art of Venetian masters in 'Sacred and Profane Vision from Renaissance Venice'. The exhibition feature 30 paintings, drawings, prints and books by the likes of Titian, Vivarini, Bellini, Carpaccio and Crivelli, including the altarpiece 'Sacra conversazione' or 'Virgin and Child with Saints and Donors'. The show is meant to examine the complex activities of the Venetian artist workshop.

Residenza Johlea

A delightful new hotel has just opened in Florence offering great value for money in a city where little comes cheap. The Johlea is located just ten minutes walk north of the city centre. The six rooms are elegantly decorated in pastel colours with Tuscan linen used for bedspreads, curtains and upholstery. Bathrooms are spotless in Carrara marble with cream hand made tiles. Breakfast is provided on trays in each room and there is a stunning little roof garden which affords 360 views of the city.

Indian Film Festival

'India - the others' gazes' is a festival celebrating the subcontinent's portrayal by foreign filmmakers, organised by the Videoteca Pasinetti through March and April. The classically beautiful documentaries of James Ivory are shown alongside lesser-known but no less revealing works by a select group of international cinematographers in an attempt to examine the enduring appeal of India through the eyes of outsiders.

Italian Film Festival

The best of contemporary Italian cinema in the eighth edition of the festival programme that's packed with premieres and guests.

The Blue Mountains Festival

Set in and around the cliff top town of Katoomba, the Sixth Blue Mountains Festival is a three-day bash with acoustic folk, roots and blues acts from Australia and abroad. The musical performances are enhanced by a diverse collection of workshops, demonstrations, instrument making, arts and crafts and of course, a food fair. Includes appearances by Psycho Zydeco, Eric Bogle, Colin Hay, Dya Singh, Damon Davies, Rory McLeod and Aimee Leonard.