Target Field: Star Tribune staffers' favorite things

Getting a Cuban sandwich and finding Tony Oliva in line, talking to fans.

Having dinner and watching the game from the deck at the Metropolitan Club.

Taking a pregame stroll around Target Plaza and enjoying the statues of Twins greats Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek and Tony Oliva. Or having your picture taken in the giant fielder's mitt. It makes a great family Christmas card.

Eating local. Target Field would be a great ballpark without Summit and Grain Belt and Surly and Kramarczuk's and Murray's steak sandwiches and Butcher & the Boar and …

Technically it's not in the stadium, but check out the wall of enlarged Topps baseball cards at the northwest corner behind the stadium. They are fascinating, both as a history of the Twins and of baseball cards. And anyone can go there without buying a ticket.

Town Ball Tavern on the second level. It not only honors Minnesota Amateur baseball, but check out the flooring by the bar. It's the same floor used by George Mikan and the Minneapolis Lakers during their championships days at the Minneapolis Armory.

The way the limestone seems to glow under the lights on a summer night.

Sitting in the cheap seats and seeing the whole vista — the green field below, and the city's lights beyond.

The wide concourse, the better to watch the game while waiting for food or beverages.

The crowd. It's a great generations melting pot. Young hipsters, the partyers and the next generation of baseball fans, mixing with the scorebook-toting old-timers watching the home team from their third hometown ballpark. Target Field accommodates all comers: craft beer and mingling spots on one end, and great sightlines, nods to tradition and plenty of baseball purity for the die-hards.

Outdoors baseball. No matter the sometimes awful weather in April and September, it's always worth it to enjoy the weather in June, July and August.