Arts & Entertainment

FAMILY
The Museum of Natural History’s latest exhibit “Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns and Mermaids” reveals the sources behind the world’s most famous fairytales and fantasies. The exhibition opens May 26 and enchants the museum until January 6. Catch the show before it becomes a figment of your imagination. amnh.org

By Christy Lemire

Forgiveness is on the minds of many characters in “Spider-Man 3.” They ponder if they’re capable of offering it, worthy of receiving it — and whether, as the saying goes, it will ultimately prove divine.

FESTIVAL
New productions hit the stage in GayFest, the month-long celebration of plays and musicals featuring gay-friendly material and LGBT authors. This year, proceeds will fund scholarship for Harvey Milk High School students. Through June 2. gayfestnyc.com

In the early 1960s, singer-songwriter Richie Havens moved from doo-wop Brooklyn to the beatnik Village drawn by the poets performing in coffee houses. He came across folk music and taught himself the guitar in three days in order to play the songs that he says changed his life. A few years later, he opened Woodstock in 1969, playing seven encores, including the now-famous improvisation, “Freedom.” And he hasn’t stopped touring since. Last Saturday, Havens brought his smooth vocals to the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill and before he hit the stage, he caught up with the Resident.—Heather Corcoran

By Ian Spelling

Keri Russell didn’t need to be in a conference room the other day at the Regency Hotel chatting up her new film, “Waitress.” After all, she’s nearly ready to pop with her first child and…

DANCE
Bring two canned food items for reduced admission to Danspace Project’s “Food for Thought,” three evenings of new work from young, local performers at St. Mark’s Church. May 8-10. danspaceproject.org

Novelist and satirist Neal Pollack became a poster-dad for Generation X parenting when his memoir of first-time fatherhood, "Alternadad," hit stands in January. Now, a film adaptation is in the works and parents of all ages are stopping by his Web site, nealpollack.com, for his unconventional take on family life.—Heather Corcoran

By David Germain

The filmmakers are quick to acknowledge “Rear Window” as a forerunner for the voyeurism of “Disturbia,” a thriller about a housebound teenager convinced his neighbor’s a serial killer.

ART
Romanian artist Dan Perjovschi comes to MoMA for “Project 85: Dan Perjovschi,” an exhibition in which the artist will draw his politically-charged images on the museum’s walls – live. Through Aug. 27. moma.org

By Rhea Saran
Peter Parker is finally getting used to balancing his superhero life with his love for Mary Jane. But, as he discovers in Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 3”, the life of an arachnid superhero is destined for complications. For one thing, there are now two new villains on the horizon – Sandman, an ex-con whose DNA molecules bond with sand particles when he gets caught in the middle of an experiment, and Venom, Parker’s Daily Bugle rival who transforms when he gets coated in a mysterious black substance. What’s more, Parker’s own suit turns black, bringing out a dark side of Spider-Man that merely bubbled under the surface before. And as if this wasn’t enough to contend with, Parker’s on-and-off best friend, Harry Osborn, decides to avenge his father’s death at the hands of Spider-Man. With his dark side alienating him from those he loves, the question is whether Spider-Man can untangle this web of complications and return to the good side again.