After surviving the Erminio storm, here’s hoping to many sunny days ahead. The return of dyed red eggs and lamb is looming as Easter approaches. Here are some fun things to keep you on your toes before we all fall into a food coma next week.

Something to see: The Fellowship Of The Ring At Village Cinemas

Village Cinemas in Athens has started screening beloved blockbusters since last year, with Lord Of The Rings having been the first to be a part of their special Movie Nights. “The Fellowship Of The Ring” is currently being screened on IMAX all weekend, with limited seating available. If there are any of you out there that have been trying to convince your loved ones to see LOTR: now’s your chance!

The entire LOTR franchise has a huge fanbase, but for anyone unfamiliar with this film here’s a small summary: A meek hobbit of the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring and the dark lord Sauron. It is a fantasy film based on the story written by J.R.R. Tolkien, and it is absolutely worth a watch even if you don’t tend to watch fantasy.

Limited seats available, book your tickets here.

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Thanasis Birlis’ “Second Life” Exhibition

Upcycled materials turned into scorpions, beetles and abstract art pieces. This solo exhibition is free for the public and debuts this Saturday at 19:00 in PERITECHNON art space. Birlis combines gears, lenses and acrylic paint in a fun exploration of sustainable art.

Something to do: The Meet Market #EasterEdition At Gazi

Over 150 Greek brands and makers will participate in the themed collective market, Saturday and Sunday at Technopolis. You are guaranteed to find anything and everything there, including my personal favorite: 3 whole sections dedicated to vintage shopping. The event will include several kids’ activities like an Easter egg hunt and face painting in case you’d like to make it a family outing. Meet Market is a great way to discover independent Greek businesses from all sectors, and taste some really good food.

If you do go, don’t forget to enter the raffle as 3 lucky winners will be getting Easter baskets filled with goods from several participating brands!

For more information on the event, click here.

Cat Café In Thiseio

Sure, bunnies are the Easter mascot… but our love for cats in Greece is year-round. With a 7€ consumption minimum, this is the only cat café (that I know of) currently operating in Athens and it is by appointment only. Probably as to not overwhelm the starring pets. And yes, the cats in the store are up for adoption! If you fall in love with a kitty, you also walk away with a few basic cat supplies curtesy of the café’s sponsors.

Athens Cat Café is the destination for anyone who enjoys co-existing and playing with the lovable felines. As a cat lady myself, here’s a pro-tip: cats love when you give them personal space, so just let them come to you.

Somewhere to eat: Colibri Pizza & Burgers At Pangrati

One of the staple Italian food places in the city center, enjoyed by many Athenians and visitors. I really enjoy their cherry tomato salad with burrata and fluffy breadsticks, even though that’s probably the most boring option available.

The burger as well as the pizza choices are extensive, so I recommend you peruse the menu yourself. Pasta lovers will also find the Italian classics including the widely loved Aglio e Oglio (garlic and olive oil). Colibri has mostly outdoor seating, as its rather small inside and tucked away from the main roads. A great restaurant pick for those carb-loading cheat days (or just any regular day when you’re craving pizza).

Petite Fleur In Pangrati

Once you’ve enjoyed your burger or pizza or Italian dish of choice, perhaps you’d appreciate a nice slice of cake. Petite Fleur is a chain of quaint, Parisian-style cafés that I highly recommend you try for its dessert and tea options. The one in Pangrati has been my personal hang-out for years, mostly due to its proximity to the National Gallery and cozy atmosphere. You will never catch me there without a slice of their delectable chocolate pie—unless there isn’t any left!

The vegan sandwich offered in the Pangrati location is also excellent. The menus differ between stores, so don’t expect to find all the same staples in each café. Bring a friend (or your laptop if you’re not feeling social), pick a cozy seat, listen to the jazzy blues playlist of the store, and enjoy a moment of serenity.

Something extra: Uni-Partara At Bolivar Beach Club

If you’ve been keeping up, you may remember last week we spoke about something called The Green Post It. @foititistigmh on Instagram is a similarly popular page, documenting relatable moments of the average Greek university students’ lives. After amassing a large following, they’ve started creating parties in collaboration with different popular venues in Athens.

This Saturday at 9PM, in collaboration with university party planners Mask Off, their newest dance party will be hosted at Bolivar Beach Club. Music will vary, from trap to party pop hits and RnB, and there’s an 8€ entrance fee at the door. Even if you haven’t been a university student for many years, I think we can all agree they throw the best parties. Put your ego or shame aside and go have fun on the sandy shore with a beer and booming music!