Los Angeles - July 11, 2006

Westside Store-y

Ecookie Boutique

The sand. The surf. That David Charvet lookalike who works lifeguard station 23.

Like you need another reason to loiter on the far Westside.

Well, here’s your newest excuse to stay AWOL (Always West of Lincoln): Ecookie, the latest beach-adjacent boutique to crop up on Abbot Kinney’s haute shopping stretch.

Owner Elaine (a.k.a. Ecookie) Francisco, a former fashion and accessories editor for People and a slew of other mags, fled the NYC devil-wears-Prada crowd for the hippies-wear-Havaianas aesthetic of Venice Beach, where she’s filled her Christoff Koon-designed store with great picks from Tibi, Rachel Pally, and Twinkle by Wenlan; jewelry from Mima and Elizabeth Cole; handbags from Goldenbleu; and belts from Jack Rabbit.

Need a last-minute sip of alcohol before facing that blind date next door at Wabi-Sabi? Then slip over to Ecookie (it’s open till 10) for a complimentary glass of wine while you browse for gifts what’s-his-name can buy for you if things work out.

If they don’t? No worries. 

That’s just what going AWOL is for.

Ecookie, 1639 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, between Palms and Venice Boulevards, Venice (310-392-2135).