Friday
Free Screening of Amelie: 212 Cafe in Venice, which is one of my favorite bohemian java hangs on the Westside, is screening the beloved French romantic tale Amelie. It’s the story of a shy, lonely waitress who decides to change the lives of those around her for the better. The film stars Audrey Tatou as the cutesy waitress, little land gnomes and a whimsical Montmarte. Free movie? Oui oui! I haven’t seen this film since it came out back in 2001, but remember how enjoyable it is. Not to mention a real piece of cinematic eye candy.
Time: 8:45 p.m.
212 Pier | 212 Pier Ave. Santa Monica, CA | 310.314.5275
Free in-store at Vacation: The record store Vacation Vinyl is hosting a free show 
with Seattle-based metal band Lesbian in honor of their debut album Power Hör. Proclaimed as the birth of the new wave of American psychedelic metal, Lesbian pummels into the depths of trash metal, progressive and death metal and comes up with entrancing psychedelic euphoria.
They’ll have their usual free Colt 45 malt liquor for the 21 and over crowd = awesome.
Vacation Vinyl | 4679 Hollywood Blvd. | Los Angeles, CA 90027 | 323.666.2111
Saturday
Echo Park Art Hop: It’s baack! The art community in the hipster ‘hood Echo Park is 
opening its doors once again to showcase its art spaces and homegrown creative works. Roam about the hilly neighborhoods where you can get visit over 20 galleries and art spaces to celebrate work that’s both hung on white gallery walls and displayed underneath freeway overpasses. In celebration of Easter, a giant egg hunt is scheduled as part of the fun festivities. There will also be free workshops, tasty food and live musical performances. Participants include Echo Country Outpost, Evil Monito, The Dahl House, and Lola Mora Gallery.
Time: Noon – 6:00 p.m.
Echo Park Avenue – Sunset Boulevard à Champlain Terrace
For more info, visit Art Needs Freedom
Origami Vinyl’s First Birthday Celebration: Echo Park’s music shop Origami Vinyl is celebrating its first birthday in style with a seriously fun blowout with a killer lineup of performances by some great local bands and free food. Plus everything in their store will be priced at 10% off. I’m personally looking forward to the Twilight Sleep and Kissing Cousins, which I’ve heard a lot about.
Free food includes cake at 2 p.m., free appetizers courtesy of Fresh Girls Catering from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., and free Colt 45 malt liquor all day and night long. The live performances start at 4 p.m.
Here’s the lineup for the bands:
4 p.m. – Tricky Sizzler
5 p.m. – Future Ghost
6 p.m. – Kissing Cousins
7 p.m. – Twilight Sleep
8 p.m. – Summer Darling
Time: Festivities begin at 2 p.m.
One years old? While in human years that’s nufin’, in music store years that’s kinda epic. It takes a lot of keep a record shop running. Be prepared for Origami Vinyl to be kickin’ and squealing for quite some time.
Origami Vinyl | 1816 W. Sunset Blvd. Echo Park, CA 90026 | 213.413.3030
B o A Free Museum Day
If you have a Bank of America account, the first Saturday of the month gets you in for free to museums across the nation. Just flash them your debit or credit card. Cardholders can check out the Renoir exhibit at LACMA, or take a day trip to The Living Desert in Palm Desert, a zoo and botanical garden that showcases the desert environments of North America and Africa. Check out our post on it for more info.
Sunday
Eco-Home and Fruit Tree Tour: Wonder what a future of sustainable living 
would be like? Hungry for some fruit? Then look no further than your own backyard, as the Eco-Home in Los Feliz is giving a tour this Sunday. This isn’t a free event ($10), but it’s such a neat happening I thought I would give a head’s-up. An energy efficient, economical home that was constructed based on principles of sustainability, the eco-home boosts drought-tolerant landscaping, a food garden and orchard, photovoltaics (a process which uses the sun to generate electricity) solar paneling and hot water, a graywater system, and other eco-friendly goodness.
Cost: $10
RSVP is required: Please send an e-mail to ecohome@pacbell.net
Eco-Home | 4344 Russell Ave. | Los Angeles CA 90027 | ecohome@pacbell.net
This Easter Sunday is also a good time to finish up your taxes, make a chain to count down the days until the next Cheapster’s Weekend post, or take a nap.
