Last night, Target took over the southern façade of the Standard as well as the surrounding blocks to put on what they called “The Target Kaleidoscopic Fashion Spectacular.” And spectacular it was.

In a dazzling and dizzying display of music, lights, dance, fashion, and, above all, wealth, Target put on a 20 minute show perfectly suited to the ADD-generation. A meticulously choreographed dance routine synchronized to a light show played out across 155 rooms, set to an original score recorded with a 30-piece orchestra and 10-member chorus. If that wasn’t enough, models in Target collections (no William Rast) walked on scaffolding in front of the hotel at the same time. All this amidst protest over Target’s controversial $150K donation to business advocacy group MN Forward who supports Tom Emmer, a Republican candidate for Minnesota governor who is outspoken against gay marriage (protesters were on hand holding signs that read “Bigot” using Target’s bulls eye logo as the “o”).

My first thought as I took in the spectacle of Target’s “spectacular”: “Does this mean the recession is over?”

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