Single in the city

Brian Kilen

By Sarah Tieck

Brian Kilen is not the kind of guy who has a pick-up line and a plan. He doesn’t have a perfect date in mind, or even a regular hangout. “That’s probably why I’m single,” he says, laughing. “I’ve never had a plan in my life.”

For someone who jokes that he’s never had a plan, Brian is managing just fine.  After growing up and graduating from high school in Nebraska, Brian moved to the area with his parents and brothers, Chris and Mark, to be near grandparents and extended family. Since then, he has built a life based on his passions and interests. He studied philosophy and photography at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse, then went to work in news, first as editor of the Plainview News, then as a photographer at the Rochester Post-Bulletin.  He’s also shot weddings, portraits, and commercial work.

He’s focusing now on some new professional directions, thinking about family and career as he plots his next move. “I’m starting to see a different future,” he says.

Age: 27.

Occupation: Brian is currently a contract worker in the Mayo Clinic’s Public Affairs department. He supports efforts to answer media requests, and part of his job is to blog about Mayo Clinic in the news.

Double Trouble: Brian and his brother Chris are twins. What’s it like to be a twin? “What’s it not like to be a twin?” Brian laughs. “When you’re a kid it’s more of a challenge—a lot of rivalry stuff going on. Like any other brother, but it’s even more intense.” Now, though, the brothers are close—they both work with words and ideas, residing in Rochester and getting together regularly.

Keeping Busy, At Home And Abroad: Brian prefers soccer games, barbecues, and riding scooters with friends to nightlife. And he’s not much for sitting around and watching TV.  Instead, he follows a genuine interest in the world to the open road. He’s been to South Dakota and Chicago recently, and he’s been to Venezuela twice. There, he sampled the country, exploring landscapes as varied as cities and oceanfront. The focus was on seeing his aunt’s native land, where his cousins were born, then later traveling with other native friends. “I kind of have the family and friend connection there,” he says.

Diverse Interests: “I do like to read, I read quite a bit,” Brian says.  His recent-reads list includes “The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer” and “Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy.”  He also enjoys radio, and his is often tuned to Minnesota Public Radio’s “The Current.”
On the Rochester dating scene: “I think it’s fine, it’s probably the same as anywhere, I’d imagine. It depends. … If you’re out there looking you can find what you’re looking for.”

Favorite Dating Idea: Once in a while, he’ll head to popular hangout Whistle Binkies, which boasts a good beer selection and is calm enough for talking.  Or, he says, he might even just get in the car and show up, and decide then where to go. “It’s more who you’re with than where you’re going,” Brian says, only half-jokingly.