Before we ever met in person, Eva Johnson and I already had mutual—circling each other on the internet, realizing we knew a million of the same people, and bonding over our shared love language: dive bars.

Eva is the creative force behind Grandpa’s Pool House—a sexy, playful indoor pool house tucked away in Stanchfield, Minnesota. It’s the kind of place that feels like a hidden world… a photographer’s dream, a cinematic backdrop, and honestly, a full-on vibe. This gem has quietly become a go-to for creatives and even film productions, all in a small town just outside Cambridge.

She’s living proof that you can build something wildly unique from nothing but vision and grit. Eva shares how she brought this dream to life on her own—and didn’t stop there. She recently opened a wedding chapel in North Saint Paul called The Garter Toss—the “dive bar of wedding chapels.” Think: unapologetically fun, affordable, a little rebellious, and completely stripped of the pressure that weddings usually carry.

And in true life-meets-art fashion, we also bonded over something deeper—we both had babies around the same time. Wilhelm didn’t make it into the studio, but her 9-month-old absolutely stole the show.

Host Bachelorette Party | Vintage Vacation Rental | Minnesota

The Garter Toss

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Finally—a new barber fills the seat. But this isn’t just a haircut…

In this episode of Excelsior!, I sit down with Peter Qualley, the new barber in St. Francis, Minnesota. Over a shared love of 1919 Root Beer, we go beyond the chair and into his story—who he is, how he grew up, and the values that shaped him.

This conversation is about more than the craft. It’s about purpose, identity, and what it means to show up for a community.

Find out who Peter Qualley really is.

St Francis barber shop@ Facebook

/https://www.stfrancisbarbershop.com/

find more at www.excelsiorp.com

Jairid Rossow, a Minneapolis-based oil painter, stopped by my studio to talk about his art and creative process. Known for classical still lifes and plein air landscapes, Jairid shared his perspective on painting, photography, and the ways artists translate real life into their work.

This episode was recorded with just one mic in a relaxed question-and-answer style, like two artists chatting in the studio. You might also hear Willow moving around in the background, keeping the conversation grounded and natural.

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IG: jairidrossow Website: www.jairidrossow.com

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