we hope you had a great thanksgiving. coming up on "early today." the black friday shopping is underway. we have bargain hunting strategies you want to hear. the giant balloons took flight and so did thankful hearts. an update on what would be the world's largest floating city a mile long. plus space x boss scrubs the expensive mission at the last possible moment. and the motor city wins a big one on a nasty weather day. "early today" starts right now.

this is "early today" for friday november 29. good morning everyone. i'm betty nguyen. so while many of you were enjoying family and friends and a great meal millions of your neighbors ate quickly and joined the mall madness. take a look at this line from a macy's in atlanta. and this one from a mall near houston. black friday started more than 12 hours ago and the day is just a few hours old. jay gray is with the shoppers at the mall of america outside minneapolis. hopefully you are picking up some items, as well. >> reporter: i'll do a little shopping. it is already busy here, believe it or not. black friday is the day for shoppers set up just to find the product or perfect gift. this year it merged with thanksgiving and not everybody

is buying that. the dash for deals, the push for presents, the rush for a little retail therapy began after the turkey gone. >> i live for this day and take this day off of work every year. >> reporter: the lines stretched around stores shoppers all searching for the same thing, savings. >> trying to save some money. it's the holidays. >> reporter: starting early and stretching past the weekend. >> i think black friday is gaining relevance because it is becoming more of a season than one day in particular. >> reporter: not everyone is sold on the idea of shopping thanksgiving day. >> they should all be closed on thanksgiving. it's thanksgiving. >> reporter: if there is a debate about what to do on thursday -- >> football, beer, pretzels and

food. >> reporter: friday's focus is clear, finding that perfect gift at a great price. and a live look the hallways are full and have been. everyone carrying bags. it is not a bad deal for retailers. this year shoppers are expected to spend more than $660 on average this weekend up 11% from black friday last year. send me your list. >> you're going to get it. it is probably a long one, too. thank you very much for that. now for smart shopping strategies. chris clackum talked with the expert. >> reporter: more stores opening thanksgiving followed by black friday, small business saturday and then cyber monday. this is the week american shoppers will be inundated. the consumer could be facing deal overload and it is hard to

figure out where to startert and end. >> reporter: that's why retail experts suggest you adapt a strategy for shopping that starts with staying connected. >> sometimes we use the target app to download coupons. >> reporter: and include social media. >> i have seen this cart wheel app on my facebook a lot. >> reporter: they say make a list of what you are buying for whom, sign up for e-mail alerts and research before you shop. >> because there are so many deals coming from all these different sources it is hard to take advantage of them as they come. >> reporter: if your plans for holiday shopping means venturing no furtherer than the keyboard here is another tip. >> the majority of stores available in the store are available online. stores start early on thanksgiving morning. >> reporter: we are trying to help santa fulfill a child's

wish list know the best deal on toys happen right before christmas. chris clackum, nbc news. in florida the mother who put the state's controversial stand your ground law back in the spot light is free on bail. she was sentenced to 25 years for firing what she called a warning shot at her husband. the conviction was overturned by an appeals court. she was released wednesday. her new trial is scheduled for march 31. the first family enjoyed a hearty feast at the white house but president obama did manage to sneak away for a little while. the commander in chief called service members from every branch of the military and thanked them for their dedication and sacrifice for america. tens of thousands of

american troops celebrated thanksgiving overseas. with thanksgiving behind us good deeds and random acts of kindness added an extra touch of class. more than 400 homes were evacuated early wednesday after a train derailed causing a chemical spill. the railroad provided the displaced family with a free thanksgiving dinner. in sacramento a record 30,000 people raced up for the annual run to save the hungry. the race hopes to raise about $900,000 for charity. and outgoing boston mayor joined about 200 volunteers to get turkey and fixings for those in need. detroit residents had a dicy weather day, snow blanketing the region led to multiple accidents

throughout the motor city. conditions were so bad interstate 75 was temporarily shut down. bill karins is here with the friday forecast. a lot of people heading out to the stores, i think something like 90 million. >> we come in to work in the middle of the night and it is weird to see people with shopping bags. >> by the time we get off early in the morning the stores are open. >> you had a good thanksgiving? >> i had a lovely thanksgiving. a little too much to eat. >> the diets start monday. we felt snow near detroit. this another quiet day. if wednesday was the busiest travel day that spread out between friday and sunday so a lot of people returning back home. cool weather in the deep south. high pressure builds into the middle of the country. a little bit of lake effect snow left over but not a lot.

and it still is cold. we are in the 30s in texas and teens many areas in the northern plains. the only spot we are really concerned with looks like the northern rockies, montana, north dakota. otherwise a chilly late november day. that's your national forecast. here's a look at the weather outside your window. today charlotte, north carolina after another cold start you warm up to 51. new orleans will be about 59. areas in florida starting to warm up after a very chilly turkey day. i'll have the whole weekend forecast coming up. >> a whole weekend of shopping i'm sure. the north koreans are at it again, this time with nukes. best in show, meet the winner of the national dog show. and a floating city for 50,000 people. would you want to live there?

"early today" is back in two.

welcome back. less than 24 hours before president obama's self-imposed deadline for fixing healthcare.gov. officials say the vast majority of people will have a better experience. as people try to enroll for health care the technology team is scrambling to build a new part of the website. the easy app would permit people eligible for financial aid to sign up for coverage without calculating an exact subsidy amount. and an american fox hound named jewel stole the show. she is a cutie. the united nations nuclear agency says it is seeing releases of steam and water at a north korean nuclear plant, all

of which indicates they may be trying to create the reactor. actress jane kean best known for playing trixy has died from a fall. stocks enter final. cnbc reports that when the s&p the dow are in positive territory for the month 80% of the time december is also a positive month for investors. japan setting standards with a bullet train that travels at speeds of over 160 miles per hour. speaking of luxury. plans are in the works to build the first ever floating city. the freedom ship will be 25

stories high, a mile long. it would have full shops and its own airport. freedom ship will travel around the globe. designers are looking for the $10 billion needed to build it. so the $50,000 time-out. most prominent moment as brooklyn nets head coach cost him a bundle. my friend is next with sports.

time to get the latest in sports. look who is joining me, my dear friend. >> you and i have been talking for years about how we could work together again. i had to go online and get my sports degree. >> schooled. >> i know sports guys work hard and i know you can't get a degree overnight in sports but really i did. in sports we are talking turkey day always football. the steelers and the ravens it was an odd game and included a scary moment. this is a miscommunication earlier in the game. kicker running for his life. you know that is not going to go well. later in the game this was funny. you see the touchdown by the steelers. everybody knows the dance there. i appreciate that.

this is the scary moment. >> the helmet flew off. >> his head hits the turf. going through concussion screening now. hopefully he will be all right. the steelers -- i asked them to take this next game out. >> you can't do that to america's team. >> that's arrogant. here is the uniform. first time in 40 years the cowboys wore the blue jerseys. they did what the cowboys do. when they win they have you scratching your head. >> kbrou ayou are at the edge o seat. >> they end up pulling this thing off. still your boy pums it off.

you remember a lot of people used to complain. they were terrible for so long. this year they have snapped their ten-game losing streak on thanksgiving day. >> about time. >> they beat the aaron rogersless packers. fox will be coming back. and the favorite story of the day. tell me what he said. you didn't see his mouth. that is jason kidd who is in some trouble. >> hit me. >> look at his reaction. >> he is crazy enough to think that we can't tell what he said. >> the nba fined him $50,000 because he was out of time-outs so he tried to do a trick to

delay the game. his team is losing anyway. this is his first year as a coach. this is how the miami heat celebrates thanksgiving. >> they are not having a hard time at all. >> you can't wear shoes in king james' house. >> you can't do that in my house either. >> it is similar to king james. lastly here people like to catch fire but not like this. this is the torch, sochi. part of the flame falls and hits the torch bear eer on the arm a he caught fire. good to see you. going to see you throughout the day. >> thank you. just ahead time to be entertained now that the shopping and eating are in hand. the hottest movies of the season. that is next.

ready to be entertained? here is what is ahead for you at the movies. >> with the "hunger games" catching fire at the box office look for more hobbit happening. >> there is a lot of high expectation for the sequel. >> another is the followup to

the 2004 comedy "anchor man." a fellow comedian down plays the laughs. >> directed by and stars ben stiller and has a forrest gump feeling and quality to it. >> "august osage county" has the big acting fireworks. meryl streep is ferocious in this film. >> others can be seen in "saving mr. banks." >> it's a true story of how walt disney managed to persuade the author of "mary poppins" to make her book into a disney film. other dramas include organized

crime in "adam furnace." >> i think there is really something for everybody this holiday season which is going to lead to big bucks at the box office. >> the odds of that are ever in our favor. that's the holiday box office preview. >> i'm into the "hunger games." >> i won't ruin it for you but it is good. i liked it a lot. >> i don't want to hear anything else. like you are going to spill something else. i'm going to take the kids to see frozen. >> a lot of people are frozen outside today. i'm betty nguyen and this is "early today." we hope this is just your first stop of the day on nbc.

ready, set, shop. the big crowds this in malls and big box stores around d.c. right now braving the black friday crowds. good morning, everyone. i'm angie goff. >> and i'm richard jurordan. aaron and eun have the day off. it is friday, november 29. a live look outside. 32 degrees on this black friday. we know prices at the store are dropping. let's see if the temperatures are, too. >> we'll check in with amelia segal in for tom. temperatures right now around 30 degrees inside of the

beltway. outside of the beltway, we're in the 20s. 23 in gaithersburg. 21 rate now in manassas. 27 in leesburg. so for those of you heading out early this morning to get the door bust er deals, make sure yu bundle up because the walk from the car to the store is going to be quite chilly. 7:00 a.m., we're still below that freezing mark in many areas. 8:00 a.m. mostly sunny skies at that point so that's good news. 9:00 a.m. we're in the mid-30s. i'll be talking about what you can expect are for the rest of this friday coming up in a little bit. but first joe fox, how is traffic looking? happy late thanks giving to you. looking pretty well around the area. looks like a lot of folks are secu securely in their place waiting at the malls. no big deals on the beltway. a quick look at tysons corner. a few folks heading back and forth. a quick look at montgomery mall in bethesda. you can see a few folks in the parking garage. no big deal. back to you.

one man is recovering this morning after a black friday parking lot fight. police confirm two men were arguing over a parking spot when the discussion got very heated. the fight occurred at the walmart just off governor highway. one of the men threatened to use a gun, grabbed a knife and cut the other man's arm. the man who had the knife is charged with malicious wounding. the man stabbed is said to make a full rekocovery. shoppers are still in stores at some retailers right this very minute. places like best buy opened last night and will stay open until the evening. pre-black friday kicked off yesterday with thousands of people skipping fab and leftovers so they could head to the malls. stores opened as early as 5:00 p.m. yesterday. >> it's hectic but i guess it's worth it. >> you are so excited. >> i am, i am. >> some workers rates fwrups protested the early opening saying employees need to spend time with their families.

>> alexandria is trying to to make getting to your stores earlier. the king street trolley will start running at 6:00 a.m. to get you to the old town shops. the trolley will run every 15 minutes until 10:15 tonight. it is absolutely free. lots of stores in old town are offering discounts up to 30% starting at 6:00. happening today in northern virginia, joining nbc 4 as we help kick off the holidays. reston is hosting its holidays are here, and it includes a whole bunch of events throughout the day. this traditionally draws a big crowd every year, talking 10,000 people expected to attend the parade which begins at 11:00 this morning and then this evening at 6:00, join me on market street and fountain square. really excited to emcee this one along with santa. he will turn the switch. doug kammerer will also be there as well. >> i was going to go out to see you do your thing. >> i'll see what i can do.

it's going to be cold. if you come out, bundle up. layers. that's what you're saying, right, amelia? >> especially if you're going shopping this morning. it is freezing out there. below freezing actually in many areas. the good news about today not as much wind as we had yesterday on thanksgiving but the chill will continue throughout the day. temperatures right now coming in in the 20s. 24 degrees in dulles. 27 reston. 27 in college park. 31 degrees for those of you in washington. high temperatures today will once again be running a good ten degrees below average. 42 degrees for a high in washington and manassas. 40 for a high in gaithersburg. looking at high temperatures also in the low 40s. typically our high about 53 degrees. but, like i said, the good news, we're not looking at as much wind today. now as we look to the weekend, dry saturday and sunday. however, like i ,