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

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.

This episode is an early March 2025 Ely-area event round up featuring host Lacey Squier and producer Brett Ross.

Show Notes Links

• Ely-Area New Resident Social 
• Ely Film Festival 
• What’s Up Ely Podcast Convo about Film Production in Ely (1:20:38)
• Wine Tasting Events at Northern Grounds 
• History Happy Hour: Saint Urho’s Day
• St. Urho’s Day Pancake Breakfast in Finland MN
• St. Urho’s Day Mojakka Lunch in Finland, MN
• La Serva Padrona – A comic opera presented by Steve Solkela 
• Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference 
• NLAA Presents Matilda: The Musical 
• Ely Braver Angels Alliance

EMAIL ME – [email protected] 

In this episode Lacey will have a conversation with Sean and Jill Leary. Sean and Jill are the founders of Adaptive Wilderness Within Reach, and owners of North of North Resort on Birch Lake. Adaptive Wilderness Within Reach is a nonprofit organization that brings adaptive outdoor recreation within reach for people living with permanent physical disabilities. They work to remove physical and community preparedness obstacles to inclusive wilderness experiences. They are on a mission to make the great outdoors accessible for all. As such, they developed the North of North Resort cabins according to the principles of universal design so that they are accessible to people of all abilities.

Lacey, Sean, and Jill will discuss what they love about the wilderness, what compelled them to choose the Ely area for their entrepreneurial spirit, and more.

Show Notes:

Ely, Minnesota is not merely a gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It’s also a vibrant community with a dynamic schedule of events that are open to tourists. There is truly always something fun to do in town! We encourage listeners to consult the resources below for additional details. 

• Email Lacey [email protected]
• Get the Ely Winter Adventure Guide 
• Adaptive Wilderness Within Reach
• North of North Resort  
• Cast Outdoors 
• Ely Film Festival (March 13-16, 2025)
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Forest North Podcast
• Ely Public Library Calendar of Events

Lacey and Brett take this episode on the road to Happy Days Learning Center in the newly renovated Ely-Area Community Foundation Hub. Listeners will be in conversation with director Kathleen Floberg, as well as a handful of very special guests – some of the children who attend Happy Days Learning Center. 

Show Notes:

Ely, Minnesota is home to a vibrant community with a dynamic schedule of events that are open to tourists. There is truly always something fun to do in town! We encourage listeners to consult the resources below for additional details. 

• Email Lacey with questions, comments, and recommendations at [email protected]
• Happy Days Learning Center
• Dorothy Molter Museum Plaid Tie Fundraising Dinner 
• Wines of Bordeaux France – Wine Tasting with Dale Beers 
• Ely Film Festival (March 13-16, 2025)
• Restorative Yoga & Reiki Event
• Hello Neighbor – Programs & Services for New Ely- Area Residents 
• WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Ely Music Connection Facebook Group
• Forest North Podcast
• Ely Public Library Calendar of Events

This episode listeners hear from Aaron Kania, the District Ranger for the Kawishiwi District of the Superior National Forest. Ranger Kania will share the details of a comment period for the proposed Fernberg Project. Next we’ll have a conversation about the upcoming Ely Film Festival with festival director and coordinator, Jacob White and Nina Wray, respectively. The 3rd annual Ely Film Festival is scheduled for March 12-16, 2025.

And, of course, this episode includes an event round up. There’s always something to do in Ely!

Time Stamps
(1:16) Aaron Kania

(23:17) Jacob White and Nina Wray

(1:17:54) Event Roundup

Show Notes

Ely, Minnesota is not merely a gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It’s also a vibrant community with a dynamic schedule of events that are open to tourists. There is truly always something fun to do in town! We encourage listeners to consult the resources below for additional details. 

• Email Lacey [email protected]
• Get the Ely Winter Adventure Guide 
• The Fernberg Project press release 
• Ely Film Festival (March 13-16, 2025)
• Purchase your 3rd Annual Ely Film Festival pass(es)
• Volunteer to be a homestay host for visiting filmmakers 
• Moon Dog Studio
• Salty Dog Band
• Great Nordic Shakespeare Festival (January 10 - February 2, 2025) 
• Ely Winter Festival (February 6-16, 2025)
• Great Nordic Beardfest (February 7-8, 2025)
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Forest North Podcast
• Ely Public Library Calendar of Events

On this episode of the What’s Up Ely Podcast, listeners will join host Lacey Squier in conversation with her friend and neighbor (and returning guest!) Tim Barton. Tim is an Outfitting Manager at Piragis Northwoods Company, and he specializes in winter. He also happens to be an excellent conversationalist and radio nerd (which is to say he studied radio broadcasting in college). You may recall meeting Tim Barton on episode one of the What’s Up Ely Podcast. He was also a guest on episode 25. Lacey and Tim will discuss winter recreation, winter recreation rentals and guided trips, and who knows what else! 

And, of course, this episode includes an event round up. There’s always something to do in Ely!

Show Notes:

Ely, Minnesota is not merely a gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It’s also a vibrant community with a dynamic schedule of events that are open to tourists. There is truly always something fun to do in town! We encourage listeners to consult the resources below for additional details. 

If you’d like to have your event featured on the What’s Up Ely Podcast, a great place to start is by submitting your event via email to [email protected] with the subject line “Event for What’s Up Ely Podcast Promotion.” 

• Winter: Things to Do in Ely
• Get the Ely Winter Adventure Guide 
• What’s Up Ely Podcast Ep. 1
• What’s Up Ely Podcast Ep. 25
• What’s Up Ely Facebook Group 
• Forest North Podcast
• Lacey, Eric, & Wendell Winter Camping Video 
• Art with a Point 
• Purchase your 3rd Annual Ely Film Festival pass(es)
• Reflections Dance Company class registration 
• Salty Dog Band
• Northern Grounds Wine Tasting Registration 
• Great Nordic Shakespeare Festival (January 10 - February 2, 2025) 
• Ely Dark Sky Festival (January 10-11, 2025) 
• History Happy Hour in Ely
• Ely Winter Festival (February 6-16, 2025)
• Great Nordic Beardfest (February 7-8, 2025)
• Ely Film Festival (March 13-16, 2025)
• Ely for Ely Playlist