Boston - November 16, 2005

Crowd Control

Weekend

Holiday shopping. Shoving. Eggnog latte on your sweater. Screaming toddlers. “Jingle Bells” on repeat.

Even better: Every last mass-produced thing on display is the same as in the five other stores you just browsed.

You’ll need a full weekend to recover if you have to go through that again this year. So why not preempt the pain and the crowds — and snag a little weekend relaxation at the same time?

Weekend, easily one of the Cape’s hippest stores, is worlds away from the city’s shopping insanity, yet it still sells tons of treasures handpicked by husband and wife owners David Abel and Mari Porcari, a former set decorator.

In fact, Weekend stocks enough distinctive loot that one visit should mean crossing most names off your list. There are clutchyes and totes by Orla Kiely and EDE, jewelry by Kiln Design and By Boe, candles and body wash by Red Flower, and plenty of clothes from Tibi and Mon Petit Oiseau.

So not only are you far from the maddening crowd, but your gifts are, too.

Weekend, 217 Main Street, East Orleans (508-255-9300 or capeweekend.com).