In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Rachel Hedlund, the Northern Education Coordinator for Friends of the Boundary Waters. Rachel’s work includes collaborating with other organizations to guide Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness excursions for youth. 

From the first time Rachel put a canoe on her shoulders, she knew she would spend the rest of her life connected to the outdoors. She spent five years guiding at Camp Menogyn and worked ten years for the Voyageur Outward Bound School. Rachel has led 50-day canoe trips in the Arctic, and has been a part of some rad adventures, such as paddling from International Falls to Lake Superior in 99 hours, and racing in the Yukon River Quest in 2016. 

Show Notes

• Email Lacey [email protected]
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• No Boundaries to the Boundary Waters 
• Forest North Podcast

What’s Up Ely celebrates the spirit of Ely, Minnesota – a small town on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounded by the Superior National Forest. In addition to being a gateway to great outdoors, Ely is a vibrant community with a rich history and a dynamic arts and cultural scene. 

There is truly always something fun to and someone fascinating to meet in Ely! With an abundance of opportunities for social engagement and adventure, how is one to know where to start? Let us help! 

This episode features a round up of events happening in or around Ely, Minnesota in May 2025. 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides
• What's Up Ely Podcast with Abby Dare
• Mother’s Day Tea Party 
• Norwegian Lefse class 
• Spring Edibles class 
• Youth Carrot Cake class
• History Happy Hour podcast 
• Hidden Valley Hammer MTB Race Series 
• Thor Leseman Musician
• Glass on Glass Mosaic class at The Art Corner 

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with Kelsey Cooke, a historian and the executive director of the Ely-Winton Historical Society. Kelsey also serves as a mine interpreter for the Soudan Underground Mine. 

Show Notes

• Email Lacey [email protected]
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Ely-Winton Historical Society 
• Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park
• Ely Echo Introducing Kelsey Cooke
• Forest North Podcast

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with our Ely, Minnesota friends and neighbors Chris Glazer and Tad Drechsler, the team behind Boundary Waters Catering, a new venture in town. Together Chris and Tad have over 45 years of experience in the food service industry, including cooking, bartending, large scale catering events, and French fine dining. Chris Glazer is the founder and owner of Boundary Waters Catering. He credits his Ma with his passion for food. Tad Drechsler is the executive chef of Boundary Waters Catering. He’s been working in professional kitchens for over 20 years. He particularly enjoys using local and seasonal ingredients. 

Show Notes

• Email Lacey [email protected]
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• https://boundarywaterscatering.com/
• Forest North Podcast

The What’s Up Ely Podcast is growing and evolving! We are expanding to produce four episodes per month, with two dedicated solely to rounding up a selection of Ely-area events, and two episodes dedicated to Ely-area-inspired inquiry and conversation.

The What’s Up Ely Podcast is brought to you by Visit Ely, the Ely Area Tourism Bureau. This episode is an April & May 2025 event round up, featuring special guest Megan Wind. 

Megan Wind is a multidisciplinary creative with a background in dance, design, and creative problem solving. In her previous life, she was a professional tap dancer.  Since moving to Ely in 2023, she has actively contributed to the region’s arts community, blending her passion for the performing arts with a decade of experience in nonprofit communications. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Northern Lakes Arts Association and is a teacher and choreographer with Reflections Dance Company. Megan is dedicated to fostering the arts in Northeastern Minnesota as a powerful tool for community connection, tourism, and economic vitality.

• EMAIL ME – [email protected] 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Adventure Guides
• Dancing with the Ely Stars 
• Empowering Young Minds Through Creative Expression (NLAA Blog)  
• We Are Water Exhibit in Ely 
• Ely Wellness Collaborative
• Ely Wellness Collaborative April Gathering  
• Rudy's Annual Spring Wheeler Ride
• Hand Pie Demonstration (Live Online) 
• 100+ Women Who Care Ely MN
• Mother’s Day Tea Party 
• History Happy Hour podcast 

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with our Ely, Minnesota friend and neighbor Michelle Moore. Michelle is the owner of Functional Fitness, a 24-hour gym located in the new Ely-Area Community Hub building. Functional Fitness offers a variety of classes (including spin!), personal trainers, a juice bar, AND…. fun themed parties?! Michelle will be hosting a Studio 54 themed dance party on behalf of Functional Fitness in the Lookout Lounge of the Boathouse Brewpub on Saturday, April 26. Lacey and Michelle will discuss all this, and more.

Show Notes

• Email Lacey [email protected]
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Forest North Podcast

The What’s Up Ely Podcast is growing and evolving! We are expanding to produce four episodes per month, with two dedicated solely to rounding up a selection of Ely-area events, and two episodes dedicated to Ely-area-inspired inquiry and conversation.

The What’s Up Ely Podcast is brought to you by Visit Ely, the Ely Area Tourism Bureau. This episode is an April 2025 Ely-area event round up featuring host Lacey, producer Brett, and special guests Emily and Teague. 

• EMAIL ME – [email protected] 

Show Notes Links

• Minnesota Versus Irish Goodbyes with Special Guests Teague & Cormac 
• Ely Adventure Guides
• NLAA Presents Matilda: The Musical 
• WUE-Pod: Ely Film Festival with Jacob White & Nina Wray
• International Wolf Center 
• History Happy Hour podcast 
• Hand Pie Demonstration (Live Online) 
• The Secret to Making Friends as an Adult
• 100+ Women Who Care Ely MN
• La Serva Padrona – A comic opera presented by Steve Solkela 
• Babbitt ATV & Snowmobile Club
• Functional Fitness 

In this episode listeners will join Lacey in conversation with our Ely, Minnesota friend and neighbor Dale Beers.  If you’ve ever enjoyed a glass of wine at Northern Grounds on the corner of Central and Sheridan Street in Ely, Minnesota, you’ve likely interacted with our Dale. He is a former suit wearing city-slicker and chef who traded in the fast life for a pair of skis and a fishing pole. In his pseudo-retirement, Dale has made a name for himself as our local winemonger. Not only does he offer trustworthy advice from behind the bar, he’s also often the brains behind Northern Grounds’ wine tasting events.

Show Notes:

• Email Lacey [email protected]
• Wine Tasting Events at Northern Grounds 
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Forest North Podcast

The What’s Up Ely Podcast is growing and evolving! We are expanding to produce four episodes per month, with two dedicated solely to rounding up a selection of Ely-area events, and two episodes dedicated to Ely-area-inspired inquiry and conversation.

The What’s Up Ely Podcast is brought to you by Visit Ely, the Ely Area Tourism Bureau. This episode is a late March and early April 2025 Ely-area event round up featuring host Lacey Squier and producer Brett Ross. 

Show Notes Links

• Ely Community Resource
• Wine Tasting Events at Northern Grounds 
• NLAA Presents Matilda: The Musical 
• Meal Prepping Dinner... with Wine!
• Writing With Your Child for Your Child 
• Ely Public LIbrary calendar of events 
• History Happy Hour podcast 
• Hand Pie Demonstration (Live Online) 
• American Sign Language for Beginners 
• 100+ Women Who Care Ely MN
• La Serva Padrona – A comic opera presented by Steve Solkela 

Join Lacey in conversation with Dominick Olivanti and Holly Bachschneider of Arrowhead Transit. Arrowhead Transit is the primary provider of public transportation in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota. Dominick and Holly give us an inside scoop on what’s up in Hibbing and the Quad Cities as well. 

Show Notes:

• Email Lacey [email protected]
• Seasonal Ely Adventure Guides (Forthcoming: Ely-Area Arts & Cultural Adventure Guide)  
• Arrowhead Transit 
• Arrowhead Transit Travel Training 
• Hello, Range!
• Iron Range Events
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Forest North Podcast