Black Friday

Most of you don't have to work the Friday after Thanksgiving, so its time for a little shop 'til you drop.

The Friday after Thanksgiving has traditionally been called "Black Friday" because it typically has been the busiest shopping day of the year. However, this year with Christmas Eve falling on a Saturday, Mastercard says the busiest shopping hour of the season will be between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve day.

In recent years, online sales have skyrocketed and are expected to jump 24% this year. The Monday after Thanksgiving has become the busiest online shopping period and has been dubbed "Cyber Monday."

Locally, the Disney Store at the Glendale Galleria will open at 4:00 a.m. Friday and most Wal-Marts and other department stores will open as early as 5:00 a.m. Many of these stores will offer outrageous sales, specials and gifts to shoppers who make the pre-dawn trek.

If you're interested in press conferences on your day off, Jack Kyser of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation will report on the outlook for Southern California holiday shopping, 8:00 a.m. at the Lakewood Center Mall.

No word if Mayor Villaraigosa will be Christmas shopping tomorrow or not.