CHICAGO -- Black Friday 2011 in the Windy City brought unusually balmly sunshine and the typical crowds on Michigan Avenue, deals in the stores and animal rights protests outside Elan Furs and other places still selling mink coats and other politically incorrect fashions..

The deals included 40 percent off at places such as Eddie Bauer and Banana Republic. Garman GPS devices were going for $209 instead of the usual $350, which doesn't seem like such as great deal. Lines of at check-out stations were long, at Eddie Bauer (lower right). And just like every years dozens of organized protesters descended on the furriers, shouting things such as:

"STOP THE INSANITY; NO BLOOD FOR VANITY."

Anthony, the doorman at my friend's condo near Lake Michigan, said the highways were jammed at 5 a.m. for the door buster electronics deals.

The beatific weather was only supposed to last one day. The weekend was slated to bring back the typical Chicago crud. Tonight's entertainment: Ike Reilly at the Double Door.