Your week: May 2-8

EXHIBIT

Birds of Paradise

The animal kingdom's most fanciful, fabulous winged living sculptures hail from New Guinea - and just came to town in rich photo and film form. Look out, Mummers. You got competition.

Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Ben Franklin Pkwy., tomorrow-Sept. 1, $13-$15, 215-299-1000, ansp.org.

World Press Photos

A thousand words? More like a million. The 143 winning shots from the prestigious international photo competition just arrived at Drexel. Prepare for impact.

Leonard Pearlstein Gallery, 3401 Filbert St., through May 21 (closed Mondays), free, 215-895-2548, drexel.edu.

FESTIVALS

Black Writing Celebration

For 30 years, Philadelphia has honored the written feats of African-Americans. It once lasted a day. Now it's a month. Among this year's highlights: an exhibit of photos of Atlantic City's historically black Chicken Bone Beach (all month, free).

Art Sanctuary, 628 S. 16th St. (with other locations), various times through May 31, 215-232-4485, artsanctuary.org.

Equality Forum

More summit than festival, this massive gathering in support of LGBT civil rights includes panel discussions and educational programming. Then, there are the parties. SundayOUT! offers endless vendors and musical splendors in Northern Liberties.

Various locations and times today-tomorrow; SundayOUT!, Piazza, 2nd Street and Germantown Avenue, noon-4 p.m., $10, equalityforum.com.

Mexican Week

The Magic Gardens (6-9 tonight), area restaurants (Distrito, Las Cazuelas, Paloma, more), the Barnes (music by Cuarteto Lantinoamericano and alebrijes-making, 1-5 p.m. Sunday), and City Hall participate in Philly's multiday tribute to Mexican culture.

Various locations and times through Monday, 215-922-4262, ext. 530, mexicanculturalcenter.org.

Science Festival

A week of meteorology, biology and astronomy and other accessibly nerdy fun culminates tomorrow with dozens of exhibitors, plus food trucks and music in the al fresco free-for-all.

Various locations and times today; Science Carnival, Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. tomorrow, free, 215-448-1346, philasciencefestival.org.

Strawberry Festival

Bucks starts shortcake season with a weekend of fruit-based family activity, including two pie-eating contests (3 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday) and loads of music.

Peddler's Village, Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. tomorrow & Sunday, free, 215-794-4015, peddlersvillage.com.

South Street Spring Festival

Eight blocks and nine hours should offers ample space and time to enjoy the 40 sellers, three stages and endless eats along the quirkiest byway in town.

South Street between Front and 8th, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. tomorrow, free, southstreet.com.

Rittenhouse Row Festival

Just you, a car-less Walnut Street, fashion shows, cocktails, some of the city's best food - and 49,999 of your closest friends.

Walnut Street between Broad and 19th, noon-5 p.m., free, rittenhouserow.org.

The Crawl

A future making the world a better place seem out of reach? Distinguish yourself instead by drinking at at least 10 out of 80 bars in this local attempt to break a Guinness World Record. No shuttle service.

Various locations, noon-8 p.m. tomorrow, $10, thecrawl.com.

MUSIC

Nickel Creek

Progressive acoustic trio is back together with a super-diverse set signed on "A Dotted Line." It marks their 25th (!) anniversary and bold new direction. "Hayloft" could be the next "Hey 'Ya." Secret Sisters charms first.

Tower Theater, 19 S. 69th St., 8 tonight, $32.50-$52.50, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

Ataloft

From the Berks County singer/singer (Darren Schlappich) who fronted Frog Holler comes another wifty, bemused chip off the Americana block you'll holler about. Opener is Travel Lanes, latest project of seasoned local Frank Brown.

Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave., 8 p.m. tomorrow, $10-$13, 610-649-8389, ticketmaster.com.

Merle Haggard

In the country music realm, there are stars, superstars and legends. And then there is this guy. At age 77, the "Okie From Muskogee" continues to proudly let his country-outlaw flag fly.

Harrah's, 777 Harrah's Blvd., Atlantic City, 9 p.m. tomorrow, $45-$70, 800-736-1420, ticketmaster.com.

Daedalus Quartet

with Ricardo Morales

Excellent string quartet performs Beethoven's searing Op. 130 Quartet (with the Grosse Fuge) and the String Trio by Philadelphia composer and longtime Settlement Music School prez Robert Capanna.

Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce streets, 3 p.m. Sunday, $28, 215-569-8080, kimmelcenter.org.

1807 and Friends

Busy pianist Natalie Zhu helps wrap the group's season in three lovely works, beginning with Janacek's Romance for violin (Nancy Bean) and piano. She'll also team with Bean, violist Pamela Fay and cellist Lloyd Smith for two gorgeous piano quartets.

Academy of Vocal Arts, 1920 Spruce St., 7:30 p.m. Monday, $17, 215-438-4027, 1807friends.org.

ABC's 'Nashville' in Concert

Get close to singing/acting talents from this savvy, country-music-themed, prime-time drama. Namely, Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson, Sam Palladio and Chris Carmack.

Tower Theater, 19 S. 69th St., 7:30 p.m. Monday, $35-$75, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

Black Label Society

Go Wylde, Zakk, with the southern whiskey-soaked, heavy thudding rock band. With Down, Devil You Know, Butcher Babies.

Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, $29.50, 215-627-1332, electricfactory.info.

Mobb Deep

Veteran NYC duo drops gritty truths and great beats. With Darq and ICH.

TLA, 334 South St., 8 p.m. Thursday, $20, 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

STAGES

'Annapurna'

An estranged couple confront a long-past traumatic event in their lives in this drama by Sharr White.

Theatre Exile Studio X, 1340 S. 13th St., show times vary through May 11, $37-$40, 215-218-4022, theatreexile.org.

Jenny McCarthy

"The View's" newest blonde comes to town to be "Dirty, Sexy, Funny" - not scientific.

Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside, 8 tonight, $34.50-$44.50 (18+), 215-572-7650, keswicktheatre.org.

'Sense and Sensibility'

Local stages' love affair with Jane Austen's intellectual soap operas continues with this adaptation by Jon Jory.

Hedgerow Theatre, 64 Rose Valley Road, Rose Valley, show times vary through June 1, $25-$34 (discounts available), 610-565-4211, hedgerowtheatre.org.

Judy Tenuta

Those whose comedy preferences lean toward the loopy and off-the-wall are certain to enjoy the long-reigning princess of loopy and off-the-wall and her current show, "Full-Frontal Tenudity."

The Rrazz Room, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope, 8 p.m. today & tomorrow, $25 & $35, 215-862-5221, therrazzroom.com.

Rain Pryor

It's pretty cool to follow in your dad's footsteps - especially when your dad's footprints are among the largest in the history of stand-up comedy. Richard Pryor's daughter is doing just that.

Borgata, One Borgata Way, Atlantic City, 8 p.m. Sunday, $25, 866-900-4849, theborgata.com.

Pennsylvania Ballet

A three-piece "Director's Choice" presents a yet-unnamed world premiere by Trey McIntyre, book-ended by two gems, Robert Weiss' Grieg: Piano Concerto and Christopher Wheeldon's "After the Rain," the latter featuring the farewell performance of superb dancer Julie Diana on Sunday afternoon. Get in the mood tonight at 9 p.m., when WHYY12 broadcasts "Pennsylvania Ballet at 50."

Academy of Music, Broad and Locust streets, 7:30 p.m. Thursday & May 9, 2 & 8 p.m. May 10, 2 p.m. May 11, $25-$125, 215-893-1999, kimmelcenter.org.

- Compiled by Chuck Darrow,

Tom Di Nardo, Lauren McCutcheon, Jonathan Takiff