Stretching from Main Street at one end to Venice Blvd on the other, it's a street full of galleries and boutiques, perfect for a day of browsing and buying. Girlawhirl usually starts at Equator Books checking out the art on display and thumbing through the out of print books. (This time around she wondered if a copy of The Surfer and the City Girl would make an amusing gift for anyone she knows.) Then she heads east and stops first at 3 Square Café + Bakery for a little something to sustain her while she shops… perhaps one of their bacon and cheese pretzel twists or a caramelized pear and brie sandwich on walnut bread.

After that, there's plenty to explore. For clothing there are boutiques like Brick Lane – which specializes in U.K. fashion, Jeannie Y featuring Japanese designers, Claudia Milan, Ecookie and Principessa. For fun gifts, she checks out Firefly or Just Tantau, which has a variety of items made from recycled products – like the jewelry line made from old typewriter keys. For beautiful paper products she checks out the Urbanic paper boutique and she loves to linger in FloralArt soaking in the stunning floral designs.

There are several home stores where she can get interior design inspiration – from Digs with contemporary Asian and European styles to Surfing Cowboys with its “vintage surf” style to Colcha with an eclectic mix of sophisticated designs, art and “found objects.” For more artistic inspiration, there are a multitude of galleries, but her favorite is Ten Women, which is an artists co-op. She always finds a unique handmade gift or some cool jewelry to take home there.

After she's made her way up and down both sides of the boulevard, Girlawhirl always makes her final stop Jin Patisserie. There she can enjoy a cup of tea in the garden with one of their delicious, and gorgeous, pastries – her favorite is the Abbot, chocolate mousse and caramelized bananas layered over a honey walnut sponge. After relaxing and indulging her sweet tooth, she usually wraps up her day on Abbot Kinney and, since it's only a few blocks away, heads to the beach to walk off the pastry and watch the sunset.

3 Square Café + Bakery	1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 399 6504
Brick Lane	1132 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 392 2525	bricklaneuk.com
Claudia Milan	1350 Abbot Kinney Blvd #102	310 428 6212	claudiamilan.com
Colcha	1356 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 743 3837	colchahome.com
Digs	1118 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 450 3072	digsak.com
Ecookie	1639 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 392 2135	ecookieny.com
Equator Books	1103 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 399 5544	equatorbooks.com
Firefly	1413 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 450 6288	shopfirefly.com
FloralArt	1338 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 392 1633	floralartla.com
Jeannie Y	1301 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 396 8886
Jin Patisserie	1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 399 8801	jinpatisserie.com
Just Tantau	1353 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 392 4646
Principessa	1323 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 450 6696
Surfing Cowboys	1624 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 450 4891	surfingcowboys.com
Ten Women Gallery	1237 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 452 2256	tenwomengallery.com
Urbanic Paper Boutique	1644 Abbot Kinney Blvd	310 401 0427	urbanicdesigns.com

related articles:

apr. 16, 2007:	Girlawhirl discovers Culver City, California. read full entry
dec. 11,2006:	Girlawhirl enjoys the holiday spirit west coast style in Los Angeles. read full entry
jun. 12, 2006:	Los Angeles shopping: third street. read full entry
nov. 07,2005:	Montana Avenue read full entry
nov. 01,2005:	Drink Up read full entry
oct. 17,2005:	Robertson Blvd read full entry
sep. 14,2005:	Favorite Shop: HD Buttercup read full entry
sep. 12,2005:	Melrose Place read full entry