Five Things to Start Your Black Friday: Nov. 23

A few facts, figures and tidbits before heading out with the other crazed shoppers.

1. BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING FORECAST: Friday: Partly sunny. Milder. Highs in mid/upper 50s. Saturday: Mainly cloudy with a few rain showers — it may end as a few wet snow showers in the Worcester hills. Highs in the upper 40s early then temps crash into the upper 30s by night. Sunday: Cold and windy. Clouds and sun. Maybe a flurry well NW? Upper 30s to near 40 for highs. 2. BLACK FRIDAY HISTORY: The term “Black Friday” was coined in the 1960s to mark the kickoff to the Christmas shopping season. “Black” refers to stores moving from the “red” to the “black,” back when accounting records were kept by hand, and red ink indicated a loss, and black a profit. Ever since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the Friday …

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Retailers Release Black Friday Ads

Start planning your Black Friday shopping now.

The Thanksgiving tradition of flipping through the Black Friday newspaper circulars won’t be quite the same this year as many national retailers have already released their Black Friday ads online. Here are just a handful of the circulars, previews and deals you can find online today: Walmart  Target Michaels AC Moore  Kohls Best Buy Toys R Us Sports Authority Modells  Dick’s Sporting Goods  Macys  This list is just a sampling of the many online circulars and specials. To search for more, check out these sites for Black Friday sales or check each individual business: The Black Friday  BF Ads

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Walmart Pushes Back Black Friday Opening in Mass

The retail giant has already released its Black Friday sale circular online.

Shoppers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island will have to wait until after Thanksgiving to take advantage of Black Friday sales at the retail giant Walmart. While Walmart locations across the rest of the country will open at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving, Massachusetts and Rhode Island’s Blue Laws prohibit the store to open that early in those two states. Instead, Walmart will open at 1 a.m., which is also the time many other retailers, including Target, plan to open for business on Black Friday.  Shoppers don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to find out about the Black Friday sales at Walmart. The company already has released its circular for the sale. For more ads, check out this site called Black Friday Ads. The sales for a number of retailers …

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Editor's Notebook: Week in Review

Here's a look back at the week of Nov. 22-28.

Newly sworn-in Town Council and School Committee members hold first meetings of new term. Residents get their fill of Thanksgiving turkey. And, we take a look at Black Friday's local deals. Here's a look back at the week of Nov. 22 to 28. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday

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Black Friday Shoppers Wait Out Good Deals in Long Lines

Well-behaved shoppers lined up early for holiday shopping at some of Aquidneck Island's big box stores.

Aquidneck Island's national chain stores attracted their fair share of crowds on Black Friday morning. People at Walmart in Newport and Best Buy in Middletown had electronics on their shopping list. "I'm here for the $198 laptop," said Pam Pine, who had a tent set up inches from the Walmart entrance. First place in line, Pine had been there since 6 p.m. She was prepared for the long wait. Pine was the first person to know that the store would not open at midnight as advertised. An 8 by 10-inch paper hung on the doorway that read "due to Rhode Island State Law we are unable to open until 4 a.m." As midnight approached, the crowd swelled from about 50 to more than 120. Many were not pleased as they found out about the delayed opening. After …

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Black Friday Deals on Aquidneck Island

A glimpse at the sales in our area.

There are plenty of Black Friday deals to be had on the island this Friday. From electronics and tools to art and clothes, there's a little something for everyone. Here's a sampling of the sales. Add notes on any you know about to the comments section below. Best Buy- Doors open at 5 a.m. for the Best Buy Doorbusters sale on Friday. Deals include a 32" LCD HDTV and Wii Console package for $399.99, a Nook by Barnes & Noble for $99.99, an LG Washer and Dryer Pair for $999.98, a wide selection of video games for $34.99 and DVDs for $9.99, just to name a few. Many of the deals require a ticket that will be handed out in line by store employees. For complete details on the sales and rules of the sale, visit www.bestbuy.com. Hours are 5 a.m. to …

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Portsmouth Living

Keeping Thanksgiving In Your Heart Year-Round

One local woman explains how, with a little practice, you can keep the warmth of the holidays all year.

I love the atmosphere around Thanksgiving. Despite the drop in the mercury, the warmth of the holiday season hangs in the air. It is the official start of the holiday season and we are more compassionate toward one another, more willing to give to one another, a little more thankful for what we have.  I know I'm an idealist, but why can't people be like this year round?  We all could stand to be a little more thankful and compassionate the remaining 10 months of the year.     Most people are keyed in to recognizing the "lack" in their lives. The lack of "stuff," lack of health, lack of friends, etc. Be thankful for what you have instead of pining after what you don't.  It's a tough concept for many to wrap their head around, especially …

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Doug Owens

9:04 pm on Wednesday, November 24, 2010

A great article Christina!   more ›