Your Local Black Friday Guide

Odenton doesn't have a shopping mall, a Wal-Mart or a Best Buy so we can rest assured that this community won't be home to massive hordes of insane people looking to get their hands on the final $199 Black Friday special flat-screen television at 5:30 a.m.

But there are some places to shop right nearby on Friday if you want to. And if you want to drive a bit and are willing to brave the crowds, there are even more options. Here's a look at where you can go for some Black Friday deals.

—I would not suggest getting your mother a bag of horse feed for Christmas, unless you want to get coal in your stocking for the next 10 years. But on the right side of the store, there are plenty of country-themed gift ideas. Saturday is Small Business Saturday, but I doubt you'd be turned away if you showed up a day early.

Homegoods—I won't lie. I stopped in here last Dec. 24 in desperate need of a last-minute gift for my wife. And Homegoods came through! They have a lot of good stuff here, from furniture to picture frames and really good cocoa mix. They open at 7 a.m. at the Village at Waugh Chapel.

Arundel Mills—Oh, the humanity. If you go, take plenty of water, Excedrin and maybe some armor. The mall opened at midnight Thursday and offered specials throughout Friday. on how one person could spend 22 straight hours shopping at the mega mall. There will be snow in the food court, an appearance by Santa Claus and gift wrapping by local charities.

—Read on the mall's plans for Black Friday. In summary, there's a lot of free stuff to be had, if you're brave and up early (or never go to sleep).

Marley Station—This mall in Glen Burnie opens at 4 a.m. (Whimps!). There's a Macy's and a J.C. Penney and Santa is there for photos starting at 10 a.m. I say this mall might offer a slightly less crazy option for Black Friday shoppers. 

The Mall in Columbia—They have everything here, from kayaks at the Eddie Bauer store to cardigans at The Loft. The mall is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Here's a suggestion: get your name on the list at Cheesecake Factory when the mall opens, then go shopping all day. When the mall closes, maybe your table will be ready.