🙋 Frequently asked questions

What is it?

Longfellow Whatever is a news service focused on the fine-grained details of life in Longfellow. It's delivered via e-mail a few times a week. It launched March 1, 2024, with the help of 124 founding subscribers and is funded almost entirely by the readers it serves.

What do I get?

In practical terms: You're getting access to frequent, brief updates on neighborhood happenings delivered to your inbox and the full archives on our website.

Big picture: You're getting more information about the curiosities, goings-on, and colorful people that make up the Longfellow communities than would make sense anywhere else. In theory, that should translate to a more interesting day-to-day life and a deeper connection to your immediate surroundings. That's the hope, anyway!

How often will I hear from you? 

Twice a week, by and large. Brevity and casualness are the norm, though there are more in-depth features mixed in. It shouldn't feel like a chore to keep up with. 

What kind of content? 

Some common story archetypes: How’s business at [neighborhood business]? What’s the deal with [neighborhood curiosity]? What’s the plan for solving [neighborhood challenge]? What's [interesting person]’s story? Did you know about [piece of neighborhood history]?

Is this part of a larger business or project?

Nope! 

What area are you focused on? 

The same boundaries as the Longfellow Community Council: Hiawatha Avenue, the Greenway, and the river. That encompasses the neighborhoods of Longfellow, Cooper, Howe, and Hiawatha. 

Who’s writing this? 

Hi: I'm Trevor Born, the main voice of the project. I’m a former reporter for the Associated Press, and I've freelanced for most of the local outlets, including the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, City Pages, Racket, and MinnPost. I spent another chapter of my career in local government doing community engagement and communications for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. I have a BA in journalism and an MA in communications both from the U, where I was also an editor at the Minnesota Daily.

I served on the Minneapolis city council's pedestrian advisory committee and Seward Neighborhood Group's history committee. I’ve co-authored a book about dominoes and was part of the group that wrote the Seward neighborhood history book. I’ve lived in or immediately around Longfellow for 18 years and currently live in Cooper with my wife and dog. 

Editing help from Longfellow's own Tatum Fjerstad. Logo by Paul Novak with the good-humored permission you'd expect from Matt at East Lake Liquor.

How did you land on that price? 

Basically, it's the lowest price that gives the project a chance to sustain itself, and is in line with other newsletters of its kind (run by a dedicated professional, about a hyper-specific topic). Less than the Star Tribune or Pioneer Press, more than stuff that's free, about the cost of a burrito per month. And it's really easy to cancel if at any point it feels like you're not getting your burrito's-worth.

I'd really like access but I can't afford it right now.

E-mail hello@longfellowwhatever.com. No explanation required.

Are readers saying any nice things about it?

OK, you didn't ask that. But the answer is yes:

Every neighborhood should be as lucky as we are in Longfellow to have this sort of weird, compelling, entertaining hyper-local storytelling. It’s the best!

Longfellow Whatever is one of the best emails that pops up in my inbox every week, thanks so much for all the work you do on it.

Thank you for answering the question that I hadn't thought to ask!  This is why I love the Longfellow Whatever!  

The only newsletter I subscribe to where I’ve never deleted a bulletin without reading it, no matter how overloaded my inbox is. Always interesting, always useful!

How lucky are we to have such interesting, quirky, informative and detailed accounts of our very own neighborhood. Keep up the good work!

I really look forward to every issue.

Your publication is one of my favorite features of living in this neighborhood! 

The length and frequency of articles is perfect. I read pretty much every word of every article. And your ability to read my mind is impressive! One day I’ll say, "What’s going on with the Elsa’s House of Sleep building?" And the next day the answer is in my mailbox.

It’s the most delightful enjoyable read and I look forward to the numerous but not overwhelming number of emails with charming and informative neighborhood specific content!

I’ve learned so much about my neighborhood this year, thank you! My friends in other neighborhoods are jealous.

One of the best things I've read this year. Awesome work!!

BETTER than I could have imagined- SO FUN. Thank you so much!!

I feel so lucky to be in a neighborhood that has this as a news outlet. Thank you for all of the time and energy you put into this. It makes our neighborhood a better place to live!

I've been a devout reader of the Whatever for the past few months. I love the focus on local news, the independence, and I think it's super well written. I've become a bit of an evangelist for all my friends to read it too.

Longfellow Whatever has quickly become essential reading for me. I've long been a lover of micro-level news, and especially micro-local history, and I feel so grateful to live in a place where this kind of reporting exists. Your article about the ghost groceries of Longfellow sparked my imagination and made me look at the neighborhood with new eyes. Thanks for your great work!

I tell people the Longfellow Whatever is the best subscription I pay for! I feel like I get more from it than the streaming accounts I pay for.

Longfellow Whatever is the BEST! The LW reporter/editor is seriously on top of the latest neighborhood news, finds some really interesting topics, and is truly a gifted writer! So refreshing to see this.

Great article by Longfellow Whatever! Yes it’s behind their modest paywall but I can’t stress enough how much joy this neighborhood newsletter gives me! A wonderful publication worthy of your support!

Longfellow Whatever is so fun. Strongly recommend.

The writing is consistently first-rate: clear and engaging. And this is coming from an English professor! Thank you so much for the "Whatever." I always read it and look forward to receiving it.

Just wanted to say how much I'm loving the newsletter – and today's edition especially! We've lived in Howe for three years now and have really enjoyed getting to know our neighborhood better through your work the last few months. You've already addressed so many of the curiosities I've compounded over thousands of hours of neighborhood dog walks over the years. 

I AM AMAZED AT THE MINUTIAE THIS NEWSLETTER DIGS INTO.

Damn, I love your work. Such a good job highlighting all the beautiful things happening in our neighborhood.

I find out so much about what's going on in the neighborhood from LW. When some "incidents" occurred in the neighborhood they were providing accurate updates and information. Worth every penny!

This subscription is the most valuable subscription I have, the writing is stellar, and makes me feel more connected to my neighborhood. Thank you for providing this service.

I highly recommend it as well. This very loved neighborhood has a voice. Just another reason why Longfellow is so special.

I'm super thankful for your work. Keep it up!

I'm a new resident to the neighborhood and have found so much joy and community connection through your newsletters and the events/happenings highlighted. 

I very much appreciate the time you take to write and report on the happenings and history of this neighborhood. Your reporting style is fact driven but with personality. And so much of it shares a bigger picture of the neighborhood through connection of the community that lives in it. Well done!

Fantastic story, thank you. I’ve walked by this house for decades and always wondered what its history was. You do a great job finding these unusual features. Thank you!

Longfellow Whatever makes the neighborhood feel that much more like home because I get to know so much more about the area and my neighbors. I get excited whenever I see a new edition arrive in my inbox!

Keep up the great work. Your reporting is becoming one of the mainstays of my local reads every week!

It has been great to read your newsletter, and I already think of it as an invaluable part of living here in Longfellow.

A neighborhood treasure, keep up the great work!

I'm going to bandwagon on the appreciation train. Thank you for your local writing, it's really special to know what's going on in our neighborhood, and in a way that filters out all the stress in the world beyond. Your writing helps ground me.

Can’t tell you how much I love reading Longfellow Whatever!

My favorite newsletter! Thank you for your reporting!

Excellent work. This stuff is hard to report on. Thanks for the concise, clear and speedy report! You were fair to all perspectives and shared a list of solutions.

I think the newsletter is great - informative, timely, and helps me feel connected to my community (even if I do live a neighborhood over).

Really love this publication!!!

Detailed information on local businesses and activities, great writing style. Just so enjoyable. Thank you for doing this! 

Just a quick note to say - well done! Really enjoying your work, informative, interesting, humorous, and well written. Hope you are thriving. A great service to the community! Cheers!

I’m delighted every time I read my email with everything you put together. It’s such a labor of love for our community and feels like the exactly perfect niche information as promised!

Thank you for what you do! I look forward to every article and I’m happy to pay the membership fee.

Keep up the good work. You do a wonderful job of keeping neighborhood news relevant and interesting. I swear nearly every article answers some question I'd had lingering in my own mind!

Couldn’t be prouder to support you and this mission. How lucky we are to live in a city and neighborhood where this kind of thing is possible.

I saw this, chatted with my son about whether it was art or some kind of pipe rupture, and then got the complete explanation via Longfellow Whatever in my inbox the next morning. Absolutely magical. The power of hyper-local news!

This subscription is money well spent! Highly recommend.

I'm enjoying your work even more than I expected.

I love this newsletter! I'm so glad that I am a subscriber, and have learned a lot about my neighborhood that is so interesting and worthwhile!!!!

Longfellow Whatever is an email newsletter that is confined to one specific patch of ground in Minneapolis, but its worldly and curious voice make it feel much larger than you might expect

I am so happy I subscribed. My husband and I recently moved to the neighborhood and it’s been a great way to get to know the area, past and present. You write very well (I work in publishing so I really mean it!) and I enjoy every email. Plus the inside scoop on upcoming businesses is so exciting! Thank you for helping Longfellow feel like home 😄

We really enjoy LW and are responsible for several other folks subscribing too (LW speaks for itself — we just introduced them to you!). Keep it coming!

It’s so cool that you just answer the questions I have without asking.

So thankful for Longfellow Whatever! I'm always to happy to see it in my inbox.

This has brought so much joy to my inbox in a truly shitty year for the news cycle. Thank you!

I've felt so overwhelmed by how many people/local businesses/etc. need help right now, and your updates have been useful in figuring out where to direct my energy. I imagine it's emotionally taxing work, but I really appreciate it.

The fact that we can get news this specific is amazing! I love your more in depth pieces that clearly have taken weeks of research to put together, but this type of on the spot chutzpah is really what I'm subscribing for. Keep up the good work!

This is is the high-ass quality content I love paying for, and yes you can use that as a testimonial. 

I found answers to questions I’ve been wondering about for years.

I just appreciate getting in-depth information that no one else is covering, centered on neighbors and their stories.

Wow. I drove by this morning, saw the sign up on the building and thought, “I need to research that later.” Opened my e-mail and you’ve already done the work! Thank you - I’m really enjoying my subscription and the stories you’re bringing. 

Huge fan of your work! Great for the community. Well worth the price of a burrito a month.

I just wanted to give you a compliment:  Having been a copy editor and proofreader for more than 20 years, I admire your writing style and professionalism.  Keep up the good work! 

I just want to say LW this has already answered so many of my questions about buildings around the neighborhood. And I really wish more neighborhoods had a publication like this. Keep up the good work. 

I am totally loving Longfellow Whatever!  Your articles are great and exactly the kind of stuff I want to learn about our neighborhood.

Thank you for providing this! It's honestly a community service, so grateful.

I love this newsletter!! It opens my eyes anew to Longfellow and reminds me why I like living here.

Above all, I find your style soothing. That's the word. Or is it 'friendly'? And something we need more than ever, obviously.

I live in Standish and still love this newsletter!

Keep up the great work! Longfellow Whatever is another reason why I'm proud to be a part of our community!

This was so interesting! Weekly reminder that we love Longfellow Whatever. 

Thanks for all the thoughtful, curious, and exciting work you do in our community : )

I'm really appreciating the newsletter and very glad you're doing it.

Thank you so much for this article! I’ve lived in South Minneapolis for 35 years and have never come across this church! What a gem! And I have to say that you are a gem also and I am so glad that I subscribe to your newsletter.

We love Longfellow and being connected to the community through this news letter makes us very happy. This is such a special place and the Longfellow Whatever does a great job communicating that, I’m grateful!

I'm super thankful for your work. Keep it up!

I look forward to the newsletter every time it comes to my mailbox!

Thank you so much for this resource - I've forwarded a lot of your recent ICE and community response summaries to family members who live outside the area so that they get a picture of what is happening in our neighborhood, the ugly and the beautiful. This is a much more realistic and helpful perspective than a lot of the bigger publishers are sharing.

We love Longfellow Whatever!! Impressive and fascinating local journalism!

This was truly a joy. Thank you for doing this important work!!

This is so fun. Well written too. Thanks!

Such a great Friday read!!! A delight in my inbox

Appreciate your work; the timeliness, the stories and his well everything is written. Keep up the great work!

Me driving past this this morning: "I hope Longfellow Whatever tells me more about this soon."

Just wanted to let you know that the Longfellow Whatever is the one and only of my subscribed newsletters that I read from start to finish every time. 

Love your reporting. I was just wondering about what's going on there.

Thank you so much for this offering.  I feel lucky to have this as a resource for our beloved neighborhood!

I saw that house listing yesterday and was so baffled by how it could exist and of course you have the write up the next day.

I wanted to say how much I love your neighborhood whatever! The stories are so interesting and area specific. I have learned so much about the area I hadn’t known before! Longfellow truly is a wonderful place to live.

Perfect Whatever story! Hyperlocal, interesting, and answers the "huh, I always wondered what their deal was" question.

I’m obsessed with this incredibly interesting, informative, and well-written hyper-local news source!

Hello! Just wanted to send a note of thank for your work on the newsletter! I was hesitant to sign up and add another monthly subscription but this is well worth it. My husband and I just bought a house in Longfellow and we love having hyper local news. Keep up the great work!