I love my neighborhood, Longfellow, here in Minneapolis. It’s a stark contrast to the suburban setting I grew up in which featured a large house with a big lawn and river in the back, with the neighbors an acre away, no sidewalks, and any sort of entertainment or shopping requiring a drive. Though I loved the nearby woods and river, I dreamt of the kind of neighborhood Beverly Cleary wrote about in her Ramona Quimby books.

Dreams do come true. Since 2001, I’ve enjoyed a nearby river (the Mississippi) and abundant woods, but my 900-square foot bungalow is close enough to my neighbors to pass veggies over the fence. The cream on top is the vintage movie theater just a couple blocks away, the Riverview. A salute to the folks who keep this gem vibrant and life in Longfellow sweet.

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