Sales Thanksgiving Day and Friday

You don't need my help finding doorbusters on Friday, but you can get a shopping jump on Thanksgiving Day. Magers & Quinn Booksellers (3038 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., 612-822-4611, www.magersandquinn.com) is discounting everything 20 percent from noon to 9 p.m. Other stores open on Thursday include Wal-Mart, Kmart and Blockbuster.

Friday doesn't have to be all about big-box stores. Here are indies having sales:

• Green clothier Birch Clothing (2309 W. 50th St., Mpls., 612-436-0776, www.birchclothing.com) takes 20 percent off all regular-priced merchandise through Sunday. Purchase two clothing items and get 25 percent off, 30 percent with three or more. Take 10 percent off clearance merchandise.

• Electric Fetus (2000 4th Av. S., Mpls., 612-870-9300, www.efetus.com) takes 20 percent off all regular-priced records, CDs and gifts Friday. The sale continues Saturday and Sunday, but you'll need a coupon printed from the website.

• The twice-a-year sales for kids' consignment are over until spring with one exception: Spoiled Little Rascals. Its sale is 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday ($1 admission or free with nonperishable food donation) and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (free admission, half-price day) at the Eagan Community Center (1501 Central Pkwy., Eagan, 651-303-3119, www.spoiledlittlerascals.com).

• Brand Name Deals (1000 E. Moore Lake Dr., Fridley, 763-572-9800, www.brandname deals.com) will have a dozen refurbished HP TouchSmart IQ-505 desktop computers for $800, regularly about $1,200, as well as a few laptops for $400 to $600 Friday. More laptops will be on sale Saturday. All of the computers have Vista, not Windows 7.

Posters on Board (6237 Penn Av. S., Richfield, 612-861-7274, www.postersonboard.net) has been offering an alternative to framing since 1984. They permanently mount posters, collages, certificates, etc., on wood backing. Prices are normally 20 to 25 percent below basic metal frames and glass, but through December, bring in any 5-by-7-inch photo or certificate and get it framed free, a $20 value. (A $20 credit is given for larger items.) No purchase is necessary, but ask for the "winter" special. The most common poster size, 24 by 36 inches, costs $89 to frame.

"Art 5 inches tall." That's how Barry Rubin describes the specialty writing pens at "Ink," on the 45th floor of the IDS Center. Unfortunately, Rubin is closing his store, although he hopes to remain in the pen business. All of the more than 1,000 rollerballs, ballpoints, fountain pens and sets are discounted 50 to 70 percent. Prices after the discount range from $10 to $450, with an average of about $75. Prices were far lower than what I found online, although Rubin's prices are not marked in the store. Brands include Dunhill, Montblanc, Montegrappe, Parker, Pelikan, Visconti and Waterman. Hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays (IDS Center, Suite 4530, 80 S. 8th St., Mpls., 612-455-2600, www.penstore.biz).

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com.

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