Question of the Day - 26 November 2014

With retail becoming an increasingly important component of Las Vegas' revenue stream/visitor budgets, you can be sure that pretty much everyone and their dog has some kind of "Black Friday" sale in the works, with many of them even getting underway early this year, to avoid the Friday crush, so you’ll find some "Thanksgiving Thursday" events on this list, too.

We wouldn’t even dream of trying to be completely comprehensive here, but what follows are those deals or events or hours that struck us as particularly noteworthy. All the malls listed below have websites and social media accounts, so just google them if you require more information about a specific vendor, or parking directions, etc. Happy shopping! (Us? We’ll be doing all of ours strictly online, possibly with a Bloody Mary in hand! For fellow retail-phobes, couch potatoes, or readers who will be nowhere near Las Vegas this Friday, may we suggest a leisurely perusal of the 2014 ShopLVA Holiday Catalog? It’s packed with deals and lots of great gift ideas for gamblers and Vegas fans, requiring a mere click of your mouse. Just saying...)

BLACK FRIDAY IN LAS VEGAS: THE HIGHLIGHTS* (*according to us)

• Las Vegas Premium Outlets (North and South): Stores will be open not only on Thanksgiving Day, but straight through the night to Friday (if they close at all Thursday evening, which some are, they’ll reopen at midnight and stay open until 10 p.m. Black Friday night. Sign up for the free VIP Shopper Club to access additional online coupons and a VIP coupon book, while with the "Gift With MasterCard Purchase After-Thanksgiving Promotion," shoppers who make a single-day purchase of $500 or more with their MasterCard credit or debit card on Saturday (Nov. 30th) or Sunday (Dec. 1st) receive a $50 MasterCard Gift Card.

• Miracle Mile Shops (Planet Hollywood): Several retailers will open early and offer sales and specials on Black Friday, including: Urban Outfitters (opening at 2 a.m. and offering an additional 50% off sale items until 10 a.m.); Tervis (storewide 25%-off sale throughout day); Victoria’s Secret (free tote with any $70 purchase and various discounts on bras and more); Steve Madden is offering a free Alex and Ani bangle, valued at $58, to early-bird shoppers, with any $100 purchase, plus receive up to 40% off with a day-long scratch-card promo; and White House | Black Market is offering shoppers 30% off their entire purchase.

Meanwhile, if all that retail therapy makes you hungry, Cabo Wabo Cantina inside the Miracle Mile Shops is offering shoppers 10% off their meal on presentation of a receipt from purchases made on Black Friday at any store inside the Miracle Mile Shops. Thirsty? PBR Rock Bar’s daily happy hour will also be running from 3 to 6 p.m. and includes $3 draft beers, two-for-one well drinks, $5 shots, $19 Budweiser beer buckets and half-price bottles of wine for shoppers.

• Forum Shops (Caesars Palace): Most shops will be open from 10 a.m. until midnight on Black Friday, featuring special "random acts of retail kindness" in the form of special Forum Shops gift cards to be awarded to random lucky shoppers throughout the day.

Other notable tips: MAC Cosmetics, Express, and 7 for All Mankind will open extra early, at 7 a.m., while the flagship H&M will open at 8 a.m. and offer holiday fashion finds beginning at just $4.95! A limited-edition Black Friday charm arrives at Pandora on Friday, Nov. 28; Donald J Pliner is giving all customers a free gift with purchase and serving mimosas and sweets all day, with special discounts available starting at 9 a.m. until noon; Guess customers can enjoy 30% off entire purchase if they beat the crowds and buy before noon; Thomas Pink is offering 30% off on select styles of men’s and women’s shirts and accessories; and Elie Tahari will be serving light bites in addition 40% off all fall merchandise; shoppers at Escada can save 40% on all Fall/Winter Collections; while Fresh will be offering complimentary gift wrapping, a beverage station, and free gift with your purchase of $200 or more. Fresh is also offering a free mini-facial with any skin-care purchase. If you’re not already full on all those "light bites," Italian eatery TREVI will also welcome Black Friday shoppers with an all-day happy-hour special featuring $4 frozen bellinis and $6 TREVI Bites. Present a receipt for a purchase made on Nov. 28 at The Forum Shops to receive a 10% discount on your total food order, too.

• Twin Peaks (Harmon Corner): For all the bored or bitter fellas who get talked into a day of shopping, this "breastaurant" will have all their female staffers decked out in black lingerie, if you can manage to sneak away for a brew or two.

• Fashion Show Mall: Some stores will open as early as 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving night, with a few more opening at midnight; the entire mall will be up and running by 6 a.m. on Black Friday, with too many sales to mention...

• Town Square: Certain retailers are opening at 12 a.m., while the rest open at 7 a.m. Inner Square Rewards members can enjoy the Black Friday Lounge, featuring "recharging zones" and complimentary Wi-Fi. Guests who aren’t current members can sign up on the spot for access to the lounge, which runs from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Hungry shoppers can head to Ranch House Kitchen for a 10% food discount on presentation of a valid 11/28 receipt from a Town Square vendor and, of course, there will be sales a-go-go; check the official website for a cpmprehensive list of stores.

• Tivoli Village: Santa arrives on Nov. 28, marked with a parade, photo opps, a trackless train for rides around the "village," and live performances by Jabbawockeez and others on the main stage. Visit B Sweet Candy Boutique for FREE cotton candy; Kabuki Japanese restaurant is offering a complimentary California or a spicy tuna roll when you present a receipt from any Tivoli Village business (not valid during happy hour/reverse happy hour).

• Fashion Outlets: Mall hours are from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; early birds who arrive "fashionably early" (6-9 a.m.) can spin the prize wheel for a Grand Prize $500 gift-card giveaway! Other highlights include: up to 70%-off store-wide at Calvin Klein; 40% off everything at Hugo Boss (excludes watches, fragrance, and eyewear).

• Grand Canal Shoppes(Venetian/Palazzo): Rockhouse will be offering a traditional American turkey dinner for $19.99 on Thursday and Friday, with an additional 10% off for Grand Canal Shoppes/Fashion Show shoppers on Black Friday, with copious discounts mall-wide.