Rochester Magazine | February 2025 by Rochester Post Bulletin

+Hench&Holmes

The Mayo doc and the “world’s greatest detective”

+Financial Advice, part II

Second-level tips for 2024

You picked ‘em!

FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

Ivy Shepherd

Best Bartender

•

Indoor

Underground

The Nobel prize-winning Mayo doc and his lifelong fascination with “The World’s Greatest Detective.” The story of Dr. Philip S. Hench and Sherlock Holmes. 36 Rochester’s Favorite Restaurants

You voted. We tallied. Let’s eat. It’s our 26th annual Best Restaurants issue. And this is the magazine you keep in your car all year long, for when someone asks “Where should we eat tonight?”

70

Get

your (financial/insurance/ banking) house in order, part II.

Last month, area experts told you how to build your financial foundation for 2025. Now it’s time to work toward those next-level financial goals.

The Rochester Civic Theater serves up Waitress: The Musical; Six Words is back!; Three Ways You Can Help ...; more.

Rochesterite

Ryan Fee, a 2020 JM grad, talks about his job (transporting patients at Mayo Clinic), advice from his dad, and something people may not know about him (“I’ve taken the firefighter physical exam four times—and passed them all”).

One group doing good in Rochester. And how you can help.

Inside one cool home you could own right now.

Wale Elegbede, president of the Rochester NAACP, talks about attending the Nigerian Navy School, dancing with his wife Audrey, and his upcoming line of luxury apparel (“When it comes out, you will say, ‘Oh, yeah, this is totally Wale’”). 26 Hench & Holmes

On the cover: Best Bartender Ivy Shepherd from Our Paladar. Photo by Joe Ahlquist. See our Best Restaurants story on

Photo by Olive Juice Studios

THE POST BULLETIN COMPANY

Publisher FORUM COMMUNICATIONS CO.

Editor

STEVE LANGE 507-285-7770 slange@rochestermagazine.com

Advertising Director

TESSA OLIVE

507-281-7469 tolive@rochestermagazine.com

Advertising

MELISSA CHERRY

ADAM GEHLING LISA SCHELL advertising@rochestermagazine.com

Graphic Designers

MOLLIE BURLINGAME BETH KROHN

Contributing Writers

JENNIFER HAUGEN KOSKI

HADLEY LANGE

MEGAN MALUGANI TOM WEBER

Photo Supervisor JOE AHLQUIST

Contributing Photographers MAYA GIRON KEN KLOTZBACH OLIVE JUICE STUDIOS

GET HOME DELIVERY!

For $29.95, you’ll get a year’s subscription to Rochester Magazine. Or $50 for two years. $65 for three years.

Just call 507-285-7676.

Volume twenty-six I Number two

Rochester Magazine is produced monthly by the Rochester Post Bulletin, and distributed throughout Rochester, MN. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. Editor, Rochester Magazine, 1700 Greenview Dr. SW, Rochester, MN 55902 or SLange@rochestermagazine.com. Call 507-285-7676 for home delivery ($29.95 for 11 issues).

Junk Drawer

Three things you didn’t know about this month’s issue. Until now.

It’s been a month of letters.

We’ve gotten dozens of emails and letters regarding the December and January issues of Rochester Magazine about, well, every part of the issue: editorial, design/photography, and advertising.

Here’s a sampling:

1. “Mr. Lange:

I was delighted to see your December issue article entitled ‘Fighting Big Addiction, Growing Tiny Brains,’ which featured my Mayo colleague and collaborator Dr. Ming-Fen Ho. The article was spot-on accurate. ... I have spent my career trying to apply the most modern molecular techniques possible to help us diagnose and treat neuro-psychiatric disease and I am sure that the approach that Dr. Ho is applying will help to achieve that goal. Thanks for the very nice article.”

—Richard Weinshilboum, MD, Mayo Clinic

2. “Dear Rochester Magazine (and your photographers and designers): Your last few issues have shown great thoughtfulness regarding photography and design, especially the articles on Ming-Fen Ho and Jerry Williams. You have complemented well-framed local photos with historical photos and incorporated these expertly into the story. People notice! Thank you for caring about these aspects.

—Sincerely, Carly M.”

3. “Dear Steve:

Everyone praises your stories, and they should. I want you and your salespeople and your advertisers to know I look at every single ad in every single issue (and the Huber Eyecare ad even reminded me to use my end-ofthe-year insurance money). That is all.

—Margaret T.”

RCT SERVES UP WAITRESS shortcuts

BY HADLEY LANGE

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

Waitress–based on a movie of the same name–follows Jenna, “a waitress and expert pie-maker” stuck in an abusive marriage. (Played by Taylor Pike, left). When she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, she decides to enter a piebaking contest in hopes of winning the $20,000 prize.

WHAT ABOUT THE MUSIC?

Waitress’s soundtrack was written by Sara Bareilles (best known for radio hits including “Love Song” and “Brave”). Many of the songs feature “beautiful and nuanced” harmonies which require dedication and planning from both the Civic Theatre’s “NYC-based music director” Lindsey Blackhurst and the cast “who are the best of the best in Southeastern Minnesota,” according to Misha Johnson, managing director of the Rochester Civic Theatre. A 6-person orchestra will accompany the singers.

WHAT AN HONOR.

“It is a special honor and privilege” for the Rochester Civic Theatre to perform Waitress, says Johnson. You can’t apply for the rights to perform the show … they have to be offered to you! This honor also means you can see a musical “fresh off of Broadway” right here in Rochester.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Waitress is Misha Johnson’s last as a Rochester Civic Theatre director… but don’t worry! There are still two more shows this season (To Kill a Mockingbird and Anastasia), and Season 74 will be announced in the next few months (with new Artistic Director Lindsey Williams).

Waitress will be at Rochester Civic Theatre for a dozen performances from February 6-23 with shows starting at 7 pm Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 pm on Sundays. Tickets start at $35 ($30 for seniors and $27 for students); rochestercivictheatre.org, 507-282-8481

Photo by joe ahlquist

Taylor Pike as “Jenna.”

Your non-football guide to Super Bowl fun

BY STEVE LANGE

Even though no one else in my family watches football, I have managed to turn the second Sunday in February into what is arguably the Lange family’s favorite holiday get-together—the Super Bowl.

This tradition started when our kids were very young. If I had to guess, I’m sure I was just trying to trick my family into watching the Super Bowl with me. I feel more comfortable yelling at a television about my personal rulings on pass interference calls if others are in the room.

In that first year—the best the family can guess is that was 2004 or so-—I told each kid (we had two then, ages 7 and 4) they could choose one item from any restaurant they wanted and I would pick that up for our Super Bowl Buffet (what I called our “Super Bowlffet,” though I’m sure it was lost on them).

Then, to entice them to stick around throughout the game, I made up a series of simple “prop bets”—novelty wagers on things like whether the game’s first play would be a run or pass. Whether there would be frogs featured in any of the Super Bowl commercials. What color Beyonce would be wearing when she sang the National Anthem.

We felt it was important to expose the kids to sports betting as early as possible.

Wife Lindy ran to Hy-Vee to buy a few small gifts—candy bars and mini stuffed animals and LEGO figurines.

That year, I drove to McDonald’s to pick up son Henry’s food choice (French fries for everyone) and Arby’s to pick up daughter Hadley’s choice (curly fries for everyone) and to McMurphy’s for Lindy’s choice (Buffalo wings for everyone). We made other things as well to round out the buffet.

By the end of the night, everyone was raving about—and calling it—our Super Bowlffet.

That year, among other things, Henry won an Oh Henry! candy bar by predicting the over/under of Beyonce’s National Anthem (it was over the 2-minute mark).

Hadley won a Littlest Pet Shop figure by guessing the color of the Gatorade poured on the winning coach. No one has ever cheered so much to see purple Gatorade.

And that year, I won the chance to pretend my family actually wanted to watch the Super Bowl with me.

A tradition was born.

The Lange Super Bowl Party has, over the years, morphed into a full-blown extravaganza.

The “order one thing from any restaurant” thing still stands.

A few years ago—with all three kids home—we ordered Buffalo wings from Wildwood, nachos from Newt’s, Buffalo chicken wontons from Five West, French fries from McDonald’s, curly fries from Arby’s.

My logistical prep for the ordering and timing of picking up all the apps is the kind of thing that makes me think I could have been an effective wartime general.

Also, I now spend hours scouring the online betting sites for the most obscure prop bets. Others I make up.

Friends and other family members, having seen my prop bet sheets, regularly text me around Super Bowl time to use it for their own parties.

Only a few, but still. It’s the kind of thing that, if I put some effort into it, I truly believe I could sell on Etsy, or wherever one sells “Steve’s Super Bowlffet of Party Bets.”

Last year, during the Super Bowl, all three kids were gone. Hadley in Madison, Henry in Milwaukee, Emma in Belgium.

We Venmoed them each money to get take-out appetizers.

And I curated 25 prop bet questions and created a scoring system based on the odds of each bet.

Here’s a sampling:

Will Reba McEntire be wearing a cowboy hat and/or chaps? Will they show a player singing along during the National Anthem? What will Usher’s first halftime words be? (“Yo!” and “What’s Up?” would get you 3 points; “Make some noise!” and “Yeah!” were worth 5).

The kids sent their picks over WhatsApp, and we kept a running tally of the winners throughout the game.

Hadley won a 4-pack of Scrub Daddy sponges for guessing the length of the word “brave” in Reba McEntire’s National Anthem (she went with the “over 5 seconds” bet).

Henry won new windshield wipers for predicting who the Super Bowl MVP would refer to first in his speech (“teammates”).

Emma, spending her junior year of high school in Belgium, won a gift card to Nothing Bundt Cakes for calling Usher’s first halftime song correctly (“Caught Up!”).

And Lindy and I won because, all during the game, our kids were texting and calling us, saying they wished they were here.

And also because I correctly picked the MVP (Patrick Mahomes) and because Lindy predicted that the Gatorade dumped on the winning coach would be purple.

(Also, if you want this year’s “Steve’s Super Bowlffet of Party Bets,” email SLange@RochesterMagazine.com. It’s free this year, but, next year, you may have to buy it on Etsy.)

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RandomRochesterite

One resident, numerous anecdotes

Name: Ryan Fee

Age: 22

Occupation: Transporter at St. Marys

Where we found him: In his neighborhood

Are you originally from Rochester? Yes, I am. I graduated from John Marshall in 2020. We moved my junior year, so I could’ve gone to Century, but I wanted to stick it out at JM because all my buddies were there.

What do you do as a transporter? I move patients from their appointments to their rooms and back. I basically bring them all over St. Marys. Most of my calls are from the emergency department to procedures—to their CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasounds.

What are the most common things patients ask you? Most of the time people don’t really talk—but I start conversations if they’re up for it. Just to break the ice and keep their minds off whatever they’re going through. I like to ask them about their jobs or what they did for work if they’re retired. I can’t get too much into the details because of HIPAA, but I ask what they do in their free time, and I’ll talk to them about sports.

Would you like to stay in this line of work? I’ve always enjoyed helping people out—whether that’s getting their mind off things or actually doing something to help them physically. And I do like working in healthcare. In the long term, I want to become a firefighter. I’ve finished my fire certification and my EMT certification. I’ve applied to quite a few different places, but it seems like most people want someone with experience. So I’ve been looking for places to volunteer at. In the meantime, my job at Mayo Clinic is a good start—helping people this way.

What’s something I might be surprised to learn about you? I’ve taken the firefighter physical exam four times—and passed them all. I was tired, but I passed them! The first time I took it, I thought I was in pretty good shape—but by the

| By JENNIFER KOSKI Photo by MAYA GIRON

time I got to the second-to-last task, moving the 150-pound dead weight mannequin, that one had my legs burning!

Five things you love? I’ve always had a love for basketball. And I enjoy lifting weights and hanging out with my buddies. Sometimes I play video games, though I don’t have a lot of time anymore for that. And I love my little dog, Maya. Although my older sister just brought her dog over this last week—she has a big old mastiff named Bruno— and Bruno was the highlight of my week. I like big dogs like that. He’s a pretty chill dog, kind of dumb, really, but we love him all the same.

trip in a couple of days. I’m going to stay a week, and then I’m driving back with his younger brother. I thought it would be nice to get away in the winter, but I looked at the weather and it’s supposed to be in the 40s there. I was hoping for at least 50s or 60s!

Where do you play basketball?

I usually play pick up at the RAC two to three times a week for a couple hours. It helps keep me in shape and get my cardio in.

If you could visit anywhere on earth, where would you go? I haven’t been out of the country yet, but I’ve always wanted to go to London, Japan, Australia.

Why? After living in Minnesota for 22 years, you see the same things over and over again. Seeing different cultures is on my bucket list.

We’re getting this interview in before you leave for Texas, right? I’ve got a friend who moved down to Dallas. He came back to Rochester to visit family this last month and asked if I wanted to drive back with him. So we’ll go on a little 14-hour road

Scariest moment? For whatever reason, I’m terrified of the ocean. I went to Hawaii with my family, and we ended up going out on this little boat trip while we were there. It would stop at certain places and you’d get off and swim around. I thought: “Today is the day I’m going to conquer my fear of the ocean.” So I got in the water, and I’m swimming around for a couple of minutes, perfectly fine, and then instantly, for whatever reason, I got this sinking feeling in my gut. And I just thought: “Oh my god, I’ve gotta get out of here.” I swam back to the boat as fast as I could, and I haven’t been back in since. I know the chances of anything happening are slim to none, but that little tiny thought in the back of my brain, the “what if,” got me. I think it’s the helplessness you feel in the ocean—I know I’m not as good in water as in land!

Best advice you’ve received? KC [my dad] gives me so much advice. It’s something different each day, so I don’t know that I can pick out just one piece. He’s always trying to teach me something, give me a little “life lesson,” he calls it. But he also tells me he knows I can do whatever I want to— that I can do whatever I set my mind to. He gives me a lot of confidence, as well. I appreciate him a lot.

Some restrictions apply. See store for details.

EXPIRES 3/1/25.

FEBRUARY

BUMP, SET, SPIKE. Prep Dig hosts the 3rd annual Minnesota Slam volleyball tournament at the National Volleyball Center. Cheer on girls from around the state as they battle for the win (and the eyes of college scouts). events.prepdig.com

CURL UP WITH A GOOD BOOK. The Friends of the Library’s Winterfest Book Sale is jam-packed with used picture books, classics, and pretty much every other genre you can think of. This is the last day of the sale, so books are priced to move! rplmn.org, 507-328-2300

BLACK & WHITE MILONGA.

Blue Moon Ballroom hosts the Black & White Milonga, an “elegant event” which includes a tango workshop, live Argentinian music from Rogue Tango (for dancers to show off their new moves), appetizers, drinks, and more. bluemoonballroom. com, 507-358-3484

GET YOUR GROOVE ON.

Learn some new steps with free dance lessons as part of Dancing Downtown at the Historic Chateau Theatre. Don’t have a dance partner? Never danced before? Two left feet? No problem, everyone is welcome! downtownrochestermn. com, 507-216-9882

A FILM YOU WON’T SEE ANYWHERE ELSE. It’s the second day of Winona’s eight-day Frozen River Film Festival (Feb. 9-16). The festival features 50-plus films, including dozens of independent documentaries, as well as workshops, speakers, and music. frff.org, 507-494-8224

WATCH THE BISON IN WINTER. With more than 30 Minnesota-native species (many of which have injuries that make them unfit to survive in the wild), you can take that meandering walk past the 17 species that remain active all winter, including otters, a cougar, a wolf, bobcat, elk, bison, and donkey at the Zollman Zoo in Byron’s Oxbow Park. 507-775-2451

VOICES. The Honors Choirs ensembles (Children’s Chorus, Treble Choir, Chorale, and Concert Choir) are at Bethel Lutheran Church for the Voices concert featuring classic and contemporary pieces (sometimes in 8 part harmony!). honorschoirs.org, 507-252-0505

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS. The Economic Summit, held at the Mayo Civic Center, gives insight into Rochester’s current and future economic trends and how they are influenced by the nation at large. Talks will be given by industry leaders in a variety of fields. rochestermnchamber. com, 507-288-1122

SUMMER NIGHTS (IN FEBRUARY). T-Birds and Pink Ladies, pep rallies and street racing, pajama parties and school dances. All this and more in Grease at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. chanhassendt.com, 952-934-1525

FEBRUARY MADNESS! It may not be March, but it is time for some basketball madness! Catch two of the Rochester girls’ teams (Mayo and Century) face off at Mayo High School tonight! mshsl.org, 763-560-2262

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TAKE A GAMBLE. Held at the Rochester Public Library, this month’s Mystery Book Club book is “A Gambling Man” by David Baldacci. The book follows Archer, a “straighttalking World War II veteran” who heads to Bay Town, California only to realize this false paradise is full of addiction, blackmail… and worse. rplmn.org, 507-328-2300

QUEEN’S GAMBIT… THE GAME! You don’t need to be a chess expert like Beth Harmon (or Magnus Carlsen) to join the Rochester Chess Club. Come to the Harwick Building today (or any Tuesday) for a game or two and maybe some pointers from one of Rochester’s finest players. rochesterchess.com

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

EASY AS PIE (HOPEFULLY).

Jenna Hunterson, a baker and waitress finds herself unexpectedly pregnant in Waitress at the Rochester Civic Theatre. She sets her sights on winning a pie contest with a $20,000 prize, enough to escape her abusive husband and make a better life for her baby. rochestercivictheatre.org, 507-282-8481

SOCIALIZE AT SOCIAL-ICE. Social-ICE is back for its 17th year! Head to Peace Plaza to see handcarved ice sculptures, grab a signature drink at one of the event’s several ice bars, and groove to music from live DJs. downtownrochestermn. com, 507-216-9882

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CELEBRATE GROWTH!

The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce hosts their Annual Celebration. Join them at the Mayo Civic Center for speakers, dinner, networking opportunities, and “game show entertainment.” business.rochestermnchamber. com, 507-288-1122

LOVE THROUGH SONG.

Melissa Schulz, pianist and singer, plays at Oaks Golf Club in Hayfield. Peruse Schulz’s song list and make a request- we recommend “Can’t Help Falling in Love” or “L-O-V-E Love” in honor of Valentine’s Day! melissaschulzmusic.com, 563-580-6338

“FRIDAY.” Eleanor Sievers, a Rochesterite, is still in high school, but she’s far from new to the music scene. She’s spent the last three years playing shows all across Rochester solo and as the lead singer for the band Beginners Luck. Tonight she’s at Taco Jed. tacojed.com, 507-258-9064

BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Celebrate Black History Month with The Sound of Gospel Music an exploration of music from “work and freedom songs” to “Negro spirituals” to “contemporary and urban gospel.” This performance, held at the Mayo Civic Center, is presented by the Rochester branch of the NAACP. mayociviccenter.com, 507-361-5040

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. If you’ve never jumped into icy water, you don’t know what cold is. You can fill that void while fundraising for Special Olympics at The Polar Plunge, a Winterfest staple held at Foster Arend Park. plungemn.org, 763-270-7119

YEAR-ROUND FARMERS.

Stock up on winter produce (parsnips, squash, cranberries, and more) at the Rochester Farmers Market. This indoor winter market is held at Graham Park. rochfarmmkt.org, 507-273-8232

A CHAIR AFFAIR. Bid on one-ofa-kind chairs handcrafted by local artists at the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester’s biggest fundraiser of the year ... A Chair Affair! This fundraiser, held at the Hilton, helps support the Club’s programs. achairaffair.org, 507-287-2300

507.361.1208 10 East Center St Rochester skyway level benedictsrochester.com

Benedict’s is where you’ll find comfort food with a twist and unbeatable morning cocktails because it’s never too early! Why wait until dinner for great food and hospitality? At Benedict’s, we’re all about making mornings special. So, bring the family and become part of ours! Open 6:00am - 3:00pm daily.

507.282.6572 1203 2nd St SW Across from St. Mary’s Hospital Rochester

Celebrating 40 years! Since 1984, the Powers family and the Canadian Honker Restaurant have taken great pride in serving fresh, home-cooked meals to you and your family. Whether you enjoy our award winning Eggs Benedict, Walleye Sandwich, or Filet Mignon, one thing is for sure, you will not leave hungry! Stop by today, and don't forget to order a piece of our world famous Bunnie Cake.

507.536.4748 212 1st Ave SW Rochester creativecuisineco.com

Voted Rochester’s Best Deli and Sandwiches. A bustling, urban deli set in the heart of downtown Rochester, featuring big New York style sandwiches, filled with large portions of fresh sliced meats, gourmet cheeses, crisp vegetables, and one-of-a-kind spreads on bakeryfresh breads. Signature salads and soups with quick and easy delivery service. Catering as well as box lunch delivery.

507.424.7800

130 5th St SW Rochester pnpizza.com

Chef Pasquale Presa is serving the food he grew up with....authentic NY style pizza along with simple, traditional Italian food including fresh salads and amazing desserts. Daily lunch and dinner specials. Dine-in or carry out. Voted Best Pizza Place 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 by Rochester Magazine readers.

507.285.9229 1654 US-52 Rochester, MN 55901 charlieseateryandpub.com

A ROCHESTER FAVORITE. If you’re looking for a great time in a fun atmosphere with friendly staff, look no further. Charlies Eatery & Pub is locally owned and is located in the Hillcrest Shopping Center next to the Indoor Golf Center. Enjoy a meal in our restaurant with live Bluegrass music on Wednesdays or visit our pub for food, drinks, entertainment, music and games. We serve breakfast all day long.

507.346.7300 78757 State Highway 16 Spring Valley fourdaughtersvineyard.com

Visit Four Daughters Winery, Loon Juice Cider, and The Traditionalist Bourbon Distillery in one spot! Wine, cider and bourbon flights available 7 days a week, plus wines by the glass/bottle, a full cocktail bar, and a restaurant. Spend time inside the spacious tasting room or outside on the large patio bordering the vineyard at the largest winery and cidery in Minnesota. Rated as the #2 Winery Restaurant in the country by USA Today!

507.741.6222 150 Broadway Ave S Rochester millvalleykitchen.com

Experience the joy of good food and good company! Our farmto-table menu features dishes made with the freshest local ingredients, ensuring every bite is both delicious and nutritious. From pizza and burgers to seafood and steak, pair your meal with a creative cocktail, fine wine, or a refreshing non-alcoholic drink that highlights both flavor and wellness.

Marrow offers a seasonal, ingredient and chef-driven menu - utilizing classic French technique, with a touch of humor and fun. Stop by to enjoy a quick bite and a drink or stay longer to visit with friends and family over dinner and wine. Scan the QR Code to make a reservation or just come on through. Walk-ins are always welcome! We are open Tuesday - Saturday from 5 - 10 pm. Happy Hour at the Bar Tuesday - Friday from 4 - 6 pm.

507.635.2331 502 N Main St Mantorville hubbellhouserestaurant.com

The Hubbell House has been Rochester Magazine’s Best Restaurant within 30 minutes for the past fifteen years. Our extensive menu includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches, choice steaks, prime rib every day, chops, & seafood. Just a short drive from Rochester, whether you’re looking for a formal experience in one of our dining rooms, or a more relaxed setting like the Stagecoach Bar, the Hubbell House is the place for you.

South- 1201 S Broadway North- 5231 E Frontage Rd NW Express- Downtown Skyway Apple Valley - 15610 English Ave creativecuisineco.com

A local tradition since 1980, is the only place for great burgers and cold beer. Hand pattied fresh burgers, grilled to perfection, piles of nachos, tasty sandwiches, loaded bloody mary’s and much more!

507.258.7555 187 16th Ave SW Rochester jerseyjos.com

We Have the Only Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks in Rochester! Celebrating 10 years serving the Rochester community. We offer Made to Order Cheesesteaks, Jumbo Wings, Chicken Fingers and Chicken Sandwiches. So whether you Eat-in, Pickup, or have it Delivered, you will Always get your money’s worth! We can cater any celebration or event you might have. We are open Monday-Saturday, 11am-9pm, with Daily Lunch and Dinner specials!

to the traditional ways of bread

Specialty Coffee| Breakfast Lunch | Wine | Small Plates

507.285.2516 120 Elton Hills Dr NW Rochester

FOLLOW US @novioscafe on Instagram and Novios Cafe on Facebook. Use your phone camera to scan the QR code and order online now!

507.424.7800 130 5th St SW Rochester pnpizza.com

Little Italy Marketplace. Shop Pasquale’s quality Italian Ingredients direct from Italy. Everything from frozen meals, amazing sauces, scratch-made pasta, and our farm-to-table Olive Oil. Our products are available at Pasquale’s or Hyvee Stores.

507.424.3885 3932 Marketplace Dr NW Rochester live4pi.com

507.258.4550 1635 Highway 52 N Rochester PappysPlaceRochester.com

Locally owned by the Pappas family; same family as former owners of Michaels and Hubbell House. Whether it’s our salad bar, onion ring appetizer, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, steaks ribs, seafood, cocktails or craft beers there’s something for everyone. Daily lunch and dinner specials on Facebook or PappysPlaceRochester.com. Now serving brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-2pm.

507.361.5144 3708 N Broadway Ave Rochester creativecuisineco.com

507.258.4663

507.206.3031

2550 Broadway Ave S. Rochester, MN 55904 Savoypizza.com

Red’s Savoy Pizza is known for square-cut Sota-Style pizza featuring thin crust, family recipe sausage, passive-aggressive sauce, mounds of cheese & toppings cooked to crisp perfection. Round out your meal with wings, appetizers, salads, pasta & dessert. Options for Glutenfree, team orders & catering available. Located on South Broadway, featuring a petite dining room, drive-thru, delivery & take-out. Open 7 days a week 11 AM-9 PM. Jumbo slices served daily 11-4.

507.516.0641 1155 16th St SW Rochester Sorellinasmn.com

Open Mon-Sat at 11 AM

Cousins Nadia Victoria and Jordan Victoria are excited to introduce you to: Sorellina’s Italian by Victoria’s. The latest Italian kitchen next to Apache Mall. You will find classic Victoria’s Italian dishes, as well as a few modern takes. Scratch pizzas, our famous sauces, cheesecakes and craft cocktails. Enjoy dining on the pizza counter side, the enclosed four-season patio, the swanky dining room, or sit at the bar and enjoy the view!

507.361.3636 300 1st Ave NW Rochester creativecuisineco.com

Tilda’s Pizzeria is a locally owned one-of-a-kind wood-fired pizza restaurant in Downtown Rochester. Unique flavors, and a welcoming atmosphere for everyone! We offer dine-in, online ordering, and delivery. Mon-Sun 4 pm - 9 pm.

507.281.2978, 300 1st Ave NW Rochester creativecuisineco.com

Rustic comfort food, hand-crafted cocktails, and an intimate, romantic ambiance define this hidden gem of a restaurant. Live local music every night makes this a top-notch date night spot for any day of the week. Make the Redwood Room your new go-to! Voted Most Romantic Ambiance and finalist for Best Fine Dining.

507.424.1227 247 Woodlake Drive SE Rochester whistlebinkiespub.com

Situated in a business district on a small lake with beautiful patio views, two private dining spaces, a large dining room, and an extensive menu with something for everyone, and a beer list to impress. WBOTL is thankful for their guests, friends, and family that make us a destination that all love and enjoy.

507.226.8146 4 3rd St SW Rochester thaipopmn.com

Open Sunday at 10:30 AM Lunch + Dinner + Event Space. Voted Minnesota’s Best Thai restaurant 2023, 2024 + Rochester Magazine’s best ethnic restaurant 2023 and 2024. We serve unique cocktails and cuisine on historic 3rd Street in downtown Rochester. Open Monday - Saturday. Shhhh... Speakeasy and Cocktail Lounge. Located Under ThaiPop. Voted Best New Bar 2024 (Rochester Magazine) Creative Cocktails in a Cozy Setting. Open Friday + Saturday 5pm - 11pm. Happy Hour 5pm-6pm

507-322-5041 161 13th Ave SW Rochester Saintson2nd.com

We are located in the Courtyard by Marriott across from Saint Mary’s Hospital. Whether you are a visitor or a lifelong resident of the city, we hope to embody everything that Rochester has to offer, enjoy our “Minnesota Nice” hospitality while eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Chef Lela Tweed has crafted a menu sure to please - try our legendary sticky chicken sandwich!

Ristorante & Wine Bar

507.280.6232

7 1st Ave SW, Rochester victoriasmn.com

Victoria’s Caters Everywhere! Locally owned for 25 years. Specializing in traditional Italian. All sauces are scratch made. Victoria’s has four private dining rooms for all your events. Looking for a quick lunch? Victoria’s Express (Grab and Go) is adjacent to the restaurant and is open Mon through Fri from 10 am to 1:30 pm. Join us Wednesdays for Bottomless Wine.

507.288.5283 2043 Superior Dr NW Rochester zenfusionmn.com

Whether you prefer raw or cooked, we offer the best fish in town! Our talented culinary team can transform any meal into a fabulous experience. Join us for a live teppanyaki cooking experience or enjoy a diverse menu featuring flavors from around the world. Let Zen take care of the cooking for you. Live music every Friday night. Voted Best Seafood 2024! Call for reservations today at 507-288-5283

507.289.9200 3120 Wellner Drive NE Rochester whistlebinkiespub.com

Locally owned for 22 years tucked in NE Rochester. Providing a pub atmosphere that makes you feel at home with comfort. Awesome summer patio, two private spaces for events, with one of the largest menus and beer selection in all of Rochester. We are happy to be serving you all for years to come.

507.288.9481 1251 Cedar Center Ave SE Oronoco twosisterskitchenmn.com

Two Sisters features blends of traditional, made-from-scratch American dishes. Indulge in steak, a variety of soups and sandwiches or Minnesotan comfort foods. Hotdish will Always be on the menu!

507.516.1050 244 Soldiers Field Dr SW Rochester towniessubs.com

Best Philly in Rochester! Stop in for our signature Grill’d Philly, a Grill’d Bowl or one of our delicious Smash’d Burgers. There is something for everyone to enjoy. We are open year-round at Soldiers Field Golf Course. Dine in or carry out. Voted Best Sandwich Place 2023 & 2024.

3 Ways YOU CAN HELP

The Boys & Girls Club of Rochester is ripe for celebration as it enters its 25th year.

Founded by a group of community members in 1999 and opened to youth in 2000, the organization has expanded from humble beginnings to become a beacon of hope for thousands of young people in the community.

The Club was established to address a critical, unaddressed need: offering a safe, enriching environment for children in grades K-12 who lack access to quality after-school and summer programs. The founders envisioned a place where children could thrive, explore their interests, and develop essential life skills.

Today, the Club plays a vital role in Rochester, serving hundreds of children each day at no cost to their families. Offering a range of programs that focus on academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character development, the Club helps children cultivate the confidence they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Danielle Thompson, Director of Resource Development, notes that an estimated 7,000 Rochester kids qualify for Club programs, and the Club is constantly expanding to meet the community’s needs.

“Over the past two years we’ve tripled the number of kids we serve,” Thompson says. They’ve accomplished this by offering programs at Gage, Longfellow, and Riverside Elementary Schools as well as at their main location on East Center Street.

“It’s been great expanding into schools… Serving kids where they’re at has proven to be very successful,” Thompson says. “Our focus now is to strengthen those programs before growing into more schools.”

3 WAYS YOU CAN HELP IS SPONSORED BY:

BY MEGAN MALUGANI

HERE’S

HOW YOU CAN HELP BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF ROCHESTER

DONATE. The Boys & Girls Club does not charge a fee to the families it serves and fully supports its programs through community members’ financial donations. Donations are accepted at www.bgclubroch.org or via snail-mailed checks. Other ways to donate include buying tickets for the organization’s signature fundraising gala–A Chair Affair—held each February (this year’s is Feb. 22), or contributing items for the gala’s silent auction.

VOLUNTEER. Community members can share their skills and passions– from crafts to sports–by volunteering to work with Club youth. The number of volunteers with the Club is relatively small compared to other nonprofit organizations, because they must undergo a full background check before working with kids. However, the impact of these volunteers is mighty, Thompson says.

SPREAD THE WORD. Community members can refer families who can’t afford after-school or summer care to the Club. Raising awareness about the Club’s mission and the valuable services it provides to the community is something everyone can do!

AT A GLANCE

• Founded in 1999

• Mission: “To empower all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring community members”

• Serves 500 kids

• L ocated at “The Place,” 1026 E. Center St. and Gage, Riverside and Longfellow Elementary Schools

• Bgclubroch.org, info@bgclubroch.org, 507-287-2300

At Eagle Rock Bank, formerly ONB Bank, we’re proud to give back to our community. As a locally owned and managed bank, it is so important to us to support our local non-profit organizations through sponsorships and hundreds of volunteer hours through our employee volunteers.

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Burn Boot Camp: Empowering, energizing, fun, and supportive community!

—Jen K. K.

Rochester Athletic Club: It has everything you could want.

—Rick S.

125 Live: Love Aqua Aerobics.

—K athleen D.

Bliss Dance Space: Adult classes in Tap, Ballet, Jazz.

—K J Chase

Ace Athletics:

Great personal trainer, not overly crowded.

—E sther V. B.

Burn Boot Camp: HIGH FIVES AND GOOD VIBES!

—Amy M. B.

Rochester Athletic Club: Yoga, Mat Pilates, track walking, friends.

—Robin M.

125 Live:

Aqua classes, great group of people.

—Sibyl Mason

Recreation Center: Rochester Figure Skating Club.

—Amber B.

Planet Fitness: Cheap, close by, go with dad.

—Emma L.

Hench& Holmes

The Nobel prizewinning Mayo doc and his lifelong fascination with “The World’s Greatest Detective”

by Tom Weber

On Feb. 11 1959, Dr. Philip S. Hench, recipient of a Nobel Prize in physiology, gave a talk at the Mayo Foundation House about another topic on which he was an expert: the life and adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

That a specialist in rheumatic diseases at Mayo Clinic would be a fan of a fictional detective would not be all that unusual. After all, even the most dedicated scientist needs an escape valve away from the lab.

For Hench, though, his fascination with Holmes had made him one of the world’s foremost authorities on someone who, despite having untold millions of fans, actually never lived.

In fact, it was how Holmes supposedly died that most captured Hench’s attention.

Hench was one of any number of Holmes fans who over the years have engaged in “playing the game.” That is, they treat Holmes as if he was a real person.

From left, Dr. Charles H. Slocumb, Dr. Howard F. Polley, Dr. Edward C. Kendall and Dr. Philip S. Hench in Kendall’s Mayo Clinic Lab in 1950..

Philip and Mary Hench put together one of the largest collections of Holmesrelated material.

In their view, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote the Holmes stories, was merely transcribing, rather than creating, what happened. This game has led to a surprisingly voluminous amount of Holmesian literature, much of it as serious as any academic treatise on, for example, the works of Shakespeare.

Hench, who liked to claim that his middle initial stood for “Sherlock” (in reality his middle name was Showalter), played the game with as much enthusiasm as anyone.

Following a medical conference in 1953 in Geneva, Switzerland, Hench and his wife, Mary Kahler Hench, decided to enjoy the scenery of the Lauterbrunnen valley and the surrounding alpine peaks. “Although I thrilled to it as before,” Hench recalled in a 1957 essay, “for me, there was, nearby, an even greater attraction.”

That would be Reichenbach Falls, the place where Conan Doyle set the finale of the story “The Final Problem,” in which he intended to kill off Holmes in a death struggle with crime boss Professor Moriarty, “the Napoleon of Crime.”

The nearest village to the falls is Meiringen. “Its special ‘history’ had long thrilled me from boyhood,” Hench wrote. “Now the very place was to become ‘mine.’ Here I was, driving down its main street, passing its picturesque homes and shops and colorful inns.

“But first I must see the falls,” Hench continued, “to find that path and stand on that spot.”

By “that spot,” he meant the exact place where Holmes and Moriarty grappled before tumbling down the 330-foot drop of Reichenbach Falls.

On foot, and via funicular car, Hench made the trip up the mountain to the upper falls, the place where, well, nothing really happened—unless you are a devotee of “playing the game.” Hench was thrilled to see the power of the falls, but disappointed that no marker or guidepost made mention of the Holmes-Moriarty struggle at that spot.

At a cafe above the falls, and again in Meiringen itself, Hench was somewhat shocked to find that few of the locals he encountered had heard about the Holmes-Moriarty battle. “Most surely a ‘crime’ against the memory of Sherlock Holmes, and all that he still stands for, has been done in my presence this day,” Hench wrote of his dismay.

Hench introduced himself to a local tourism official and suggested that a marker noting the importance of Reichenbach and Meiringen in regard to Sherlock Holmes would draw tourists from around the world.

“A fine idea,” the official said, according to Hench.

So, through his contacts with Sherlock Holmes societies in London and Minnesota, Hench was able, in 1957, to get a plaque mounted near where the fictional Holmes-Moriarty face-off took place. To make sure he had determined the exact place, Hench used his scientific skills to take careful measurements based on the descriptions in Conan Doyle’s story. He then produced a sketch of the area.

Sure enough, as Hench predicted, Meiringen has become a tourist destination, and not just because of the stunning Alpine scenery. National Geographic describes the town as “the ultimate pilgrimage site for Sherlock fans.”

A bronze bas relief plaque—secured by the work of Dr. Philip Hench—depicts fictional detective Sherlock Holmes at the Conan Doyle Place museum in Meiringen, Switzerland where Holmes supposedly perished in the nearby Reichenbach Falls.

Photo by Spencer Grant/Alamy Stock Photo.

In 1991, the Sherlock Holmes Museum, which features an authentic reproduction of his rooms at 221B Baker Street, London, opened in Meiringen. A statue of the famed fictional detective is perched outside the museum, keeping his well-trained eyes on everything that passes by. Nearby is the Park Hotel du Sauvage, which Conan Doyle disguised as the Englischer Hof in “The Final Problem.”

Hench, who died in 1965, would no doubt be gratified by these developments.

But the Hench connection to Holmes didn’t end there. Over the years, Philip and Mary Hench put together one of the largest collections of Holmes-related material in the world, including 1,800 books, 1,500 periodicals, and numerous letters, illustrations and manuscripts.

In 1978, Mary Hench donated their Holmes collection to the University of Minnesota.

The collection was “full of amazing rarities,” according to Tim Johnson, the curator of special collections and rare books at the University of Minnesota Libraries (who previously described the collection to the Post Bulletin). It included four copies of “Beeton’s Christmas Annual,” which has the first appearance of Holmes in print, the novella “A Study in Scarlet,” from November 1887. Only about 30 copies of Holmes’ debut are known to exist.

Mayo Drs. Philip S. Hench (left) and Edward C. Kendall were awarded the Nobel Prize for isolation and first clinical use of cortisone in 1950.

With the donation of the Hench collection in 1969, according to Johnson, “the Sherlockian world sat up.”

Other Holmes collectors, after hearing of the Hench donation, also donated items to the University of Minnesota.

Today, the university’s entire Sherlock Holmes’ collection—part of 60,000 items from various collectors and centerpieced by the Hench contributions—is housed deep in an underground storage cavern at the University of Minnesota, a testament to serious Sherlock Holmes fans who “play the game.”

Philip S. Hench: A short bio

(And the “S” actually stands for Showalter, not Sherlock)

Philip Showalter Hench was born Feb. 28, 1896 in Pittsburgh. He received his medical degree in 1920 from the University of Pittsburgh, and came to Rochester in 1921 as a fellow in internal medicine in the Mayo

Graduate School of Medicine. He became a consultant at Mayo Clinic in 1926, and was head of the new section of rheumatic diseases.

Hench and Mary Genevieve Kahler were married on July 14, 1927. Mary Kahler was the daughter of John Kahler, the “renowned Rochester hotel developer and civic leader who collaborated with the Mayo brothers.” Philip and Mary had four children.

In 1950, Hench and fellow Mayo scientist Dr. Edward C. Kendall shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology with Dr. Tadeus Reichstein, of Switzerland.

In one of the most celebrated examples of Mayo’s collaborative approach to

care, Hench (a clinical rheumatologist) and Kendall (a laboratory scientist) worked for decades—beginning in the 1920s—researching cortisone, a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal gland in times of stress.

Driven by Kendall’s research and Hench’s direct work with patients, the pair isolated and discovered a medication that today is a common anti-inflammatory drug used to treat everything from inflammation to eczema. Their discovery won the Nobel Prize for Medicine or Physiology (shared with Polish-Swiss chemist Reichstein) in 1950.

Hench retired from Mayo in 1957. He died of pneumonia in 1965 while vacationing in Jamaica.

The Sherlock Holmes statue in Meiringen, Switzerland

Photo by Mauritius Images/Alamy

“The Final Problem”

The Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story that led Hench to Reichenbach Falls

By 1893, after producing two dozen stories and two novels, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had reportedly grown tired of writing about Sherlock Holmes. “I think of slaying Holmes,” he wrote in his diary, “and winding him up for good and all.” During a stay in the Swiss village of Meiringen, Conan Doyle found the solution to what he hoped would be his final problem.

In the story, he has Dr. Watson, the trusty sidekick of Holmes, write of a trip he and Holmes took from England to continental Europe to escape the grip of the dangerous and deadly Moriarty crime gang. After traveling for several days, they arrive in Switzerland. Their walks through the mountains, though, have been tracked by Moriarty.

Finally, on a hike to see Reichenbach Falls, as recommended by their innkeeper, Holmes and Watson are stopped by a messenger, who claims an English woman back at the hotel is desperately ill and would like to see a doctor. Watson heads back down the mountain, leaving Holmes on his own. The message was a ruse by the Moriarty gang, and as the story unwinds, Holmes and Moriarty meet at the precipice of the falls. They wrestle, and both apparently fall into the cauldron.

“Any attempt at recovering the bodies was absolutely hopeless,” Watson writes.

That was rather convenient, because several years later, Conan Doyle would bring Holmes back to life, and explain it all in his next story, “The Adventure of the Empty House.”

The Death of Sherlock Holmes. Holmes struggles with Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls from ‘The Final Problem’ by Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930). Illustration by Sidney Paget (18601908) from December 1893 edition of The Strand Magazine.

Credit: Private Collection / AF Fotografie

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Photo courtesy Pinnacle Catering by Powers Ventures (Best Caterer winner).

ROCHESTER’S FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

You voted. We tallied. Let's eat.

It’s our 26th annual Best Restaurants issue. And this is the magazine you keep in your car all year long, for when someone asks “Where should we eat tonight?”

Photos by Joe Ahlquist, Maya Giron, and ken klotzbach

Best PLACE FOR COCKTAILS

winner: Bitter & Pour 18 Third St. SW (lower level) 507-322-6320 bitterandpour.com

r unners-up: Our Paladar; Bleu Duck Kitchen; Sorellina’s; Olde Brick House; 1928 Cocktails and Bites; Chester’s Kitchen and Bar

Best APPETIZER

winner: Jalapeno Popper Egg Rolls at Purple Goat 3708 N. Broadway Ave. 507-361-5144 creativecuisineco.com/purple-goat

r unners-up: Burrata at Our Paladar; Calamari at Bleu Duck Kitchen; Buffalo Chicken Wontons at Five West; Deviled Eggs at Marrow; Steamed Mussels at Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar; Hand-Sliced Onion Rings at Canadian Honker; Noi’s Egg Rolls at Whistle Binkies

Best BURGER PLACE

winner: Hot Chip Burger Bar 1190 16th St. SW 507-424-0080; hotchipburgerbar.com

runners-up: Townies Grill’d Philly Subs and More; Newt’s; Purple Goat, Brothers; Red Cow, Pappy’s Place

Best BREAKFAST PLACE

winner: Benedict’s 10 E Center St. 2nd Floor 507-361-1208

benedictsrochester.com

r unners-up: Canadian Honker; Hollandberry Pannekoeken; Brothers Bar & Grill; Five West; Novios Café; Rooster’s; Grandma’s Kitchen

winner: Pinnacle Catering by Powers Ventures (formerly Canadian Honker) 2112 2nd Street SW, Suite 100 507-258-4633 pinnaclecateringmn.com

r unners-up: Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar; Nupa; Catering By Design; Smoak BBQ; Hy-Vee

winner: Little Thistle Brewing 2031 14th St. NW 507-226-8014 littlethistlebeer.com

r unners-up: Thesis Beer Project; The Workshop Food Hall & Bar; Beetle’s Bar and Grill; Pappy’s Place; LTS Brewing Company

Photo courtesy Pinnacle Catering by Powers Ventures.

Best RESTAURANT TO RENT A ROOM FOR EVENTS

(LESS THAN 50 PEOPLE)

winner: Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse

10 E. Center St. 507-361-2560 pittsburghbluesteak.com

r unners-up: Chester’s Kitchen and Bar; Whistle Binkies On the Lake; Whistle Binkies Olde World Pub; Five West; Thai Pop; Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar

(50-PLUS PEOPLE)

winner:

Charlie’s Eatery & Pub 1654 US-52 507-285-9229 charlieseateryandpub.com

r unners-up: Eagles Club; VFW Post 1215 Mess Hall Tavern & Grill; Our Paladar; Bleu Duck Kitchen; Purple Goat; Zen Fusion Hibachi & Lounge; Whistle Binkies On the Lake; Whistle Binkies Olde World Pub

Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse.

Best LOCALLYBREWED BEER

winner: The Doug at Little Thistle Brewing 2031 14th St. NW 507-226-8014 littlethistlebeer.com

r unners-up: The Nillerzzzzz at Forager Brewery and Cafe; The Yellow Jacket Imperial IPA at Kinney Creek Brewery; Thesis Pieces at Thesis Beer Project

Best BAR FOOD

winner: Wildwood Sports Bar and Grill

1517 16th St. SW 507-226-8380 wildwoodsportsbarandgrill.com

runners-up: Bleu Duck Kitchen; Townies Grill’d Philly Subs and More; Purple Goat; Newt’s; Beetle’s Bar And Grill

Best NEW BAR

winner: Palmetto Room 20 4th Street SE (below Our Paladar) 507-206-0483 ourpaladar.com/palmettoroom

r unners-up: 1928 Cocktails and Bites; Bull’s Bierhaus; Eddie’s Rey de la Birria

Best NEW RESTAURANT

winner: Ruth’s Chris Steak House 20 2nd Ave SW 507-246-2344 ruthschris.com

r unners-up: Red’s Savoy Pizza; Big Head Burrito; L umi; Eddie’s Rey de la Birria; Mill Valley Kitchen

Photo courtesy Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Best HEALTH FOOD PLACE

winner: Bloom Acai Cafe 2483 Commerce Dr. NW 507-258-4025 mybloombowl.com

r unners-up: Indigo Açaí Bowls; Nupa South; People’s Food Co-op; Crisp and Green; Saladworks; Old Abe & Co.; Nautical Bowls; The Fit Loon

Best BAKERY

winner: Great Harvest Bread Co. 706 N. Broadway 507-286-1101 2483 Commerce Drive 507-258-5300 greatharvestrochester.com

r unners-up: Mezza9 Cafe & Desserts; Hy-Vee; Don Panchos Bakery; Freddy’s Bakery & Cafe

Photo courtesy Great Harvest Bread Co.

Coolest LOOKING RESTAURANT

winner: Bleu Duck Kitchen

14 4th St. SW 507-258-4663 bleuduckkitchen.com

r unners-up: Our Paladar; Purple Goat; Thai Pop; Marrow; CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar; Bebap Korean Eats; Latitude 44

Best HAPPY HOUR

winner: Townies Grill’d Philly Subs and More

244 Soldiers Field Dr. SW 507-516-1050 towniesubs.com

r unners-up: Bleu Duck Kitchen; Purple Goat; Rooster’s; Newt’s; Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse; Olde Brick House; Wildwood Sports Bar and Grill; Whistle Binkies

Best BUFFALO WINGS

winner: Wildwood Sports Bar and Grill

1517 16th St. SW 507-226-8380 wildwoodsportsbarandgrill.com

r unners-up: Purple Goat; Townies Grill’d Philly

Subs and More; Newt’s; Brothers Bar & Grill; Buffalo Wild Wings

isrestaurantisagem!efoodwas delicious,theservicewasgreat,andthe ambiancewasperfect!– RajJ.

Assomeonewithceliac,thisrestaurant wasadream!Ourserverwasfast, attentive,andveryhelpful.Iwould definitelycomebackagainnexttime I'minRochester.– NoelleR.

Ateherebetweenappointmentsat Mayo.Gotseatedrightawayasaparty offour.Veryattentiveserver,and FANTASTICfood!– WillJ.

eyhavedelicioushomemadepasta withaverylargediverseItalianmenu. Ihavealwaysfoundthewaitstaﬀ friendlyandattentive.– DavidH.

Best SANDWICH PLACE

winner: Townies Grill’d Philly Subs and More

244 Soldiers Field Dr. SW 507-516-1050 towniesubs.com

r unners-up: City Market; Tinn’s Grilled Philly Steak Subs; Pappy’s Place; Chester’s Kitchen and Bar; Homeboy S andwich Co.; Old Abe & Co.

Best DESSERT

winner: Annie’s Toast at Thai Pop 4 Third St. SW 507-226-8146 thaipopmn.com

r unners-up: Tres Leches at Our Paladar; Tiramisu Cheesecake at Sorellina’s; Crepe Cake at Bleu Duck Kitchen; Danish Donuts at Marrow; Bunnie’s Coconut Cake at Canadian Honker; Salted Carmel Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake at Mr. Pizza North; Chocolate Cake at Chester’s Kitchen & Bar

Best STEAK PLACE

winner: Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse 10 E. Center St. 507-361-2560 pittsburghbluesteak.com

r unners-up: Ruth’s Chris Steak House; Zen Fusion Hibachi & Lounge; Our Paladar; Texas Roadhouse; Pappy’s Place; Chester’s Kitchen & Bar

Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse.

Best OUTDOOR DINING

winner: Twigs Tavern and Grille 401 Sixth St. SW 507-288-0206 twigstavernandgrille.com

r unners-up: The Tap House on Historic Third St.; Whistle Binkies On the Lake; Hot Chip; Purple Goat; Five West

Best SALAD PLACE

winner: Saladworks Marriott Subway Level 101 1st Ave SW 507-361-3333 restaurants.saladworks.com/mn/ rochester

runners-up: Purple Goat; Zen Fusion Hibachi & Lounge; Crisp & Green; Pappy’s Place; Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar; Salad Brothers; Sorellina’s

Photo contributed Saladworks

Best ITALIAN DISH

winner: Mechi’s Chicken at Victoria’s Ris torante & Wine Bar 7 First Ave. SW 507-280-6232 victoriasmn.com

r unners-up: Gnudi at Our Paladar; Chicken Rosa Verde at Sorellina’s; Chicken Alfredo at Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar; Butternut Ravioli at Twigs; Gnocchi at Terza; Gnocchi at Latitude 44

Best PLACE FOR SEAFOOD

winner: CRAVE American Kitchen & Sushi Bar

220 Broadway Ave S 507-512-3800 craverochestermn.com

r unners-up: Our Paladar; Zen Fusion Hibachi & Lounge; Bleu Duck Kitchen; Red Lobster; Kumo Sushi; Ichi Tokyo; Ootori Sushi; Canadian Honker

Most ROMANTIC RESTAURANT

winner: The Redwood Room

300 First Ave. NW 507-281-2978 creativecuisineco.com

r unners-up: Marrow; Bleu Duck Kitchen; Our Paladar; Terza; Latitude 44; Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar; Sorellina’s

Best PIZZA PLACE

winner: Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria

130 Fifth St. SW 507-424-7800 pnpizza.com

r unners-up: Mr. Pizza North; Mr Pizza South; Red’s Savoy; Pi Pizza; Tilda’s Pizzeria; BB’s Pizzaria; Zadeos Pizza

Photo courtesy CRAVE.

Best COFFEE SHOP

winner: Cafe Steam three locations steam.coffee

r unners-up: Cafe Aqui; St. James Coffee; MOKA; Bravo Espresso & Gourmet; Old Abe & Co.; Novios Café; Spyhouse Coffee Roasters; Scooter’s Coffee

Best RESTAURANT SERVICE

winner: Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar 7 First Ave. SW 507-280-6232 victoriasmn.com

r unners-up: Sorellina’s; Our Paladar; Bleu Duck Kitchen; Purple Goat; Marrow; Nupa South; Five West; Canadian Honker

Best BARTENDER

winner: Ivy Shepherd at Our Paladar 20 Fourth St. SE 507-206-0483 ourpaladar.com

r unners-up: Enrique Barajas at Townies Grill’d Philly Subs and More; Kylie McFarland at Purple Goat; Kasey Kephart at Bleu Duck Kitchen; Corbin Holmen at Bleu Duck Kitchen; Angie Mundt at Uncle John’s Bar and Grill

Best ASIAN PLACE

winner: Thai Pop 4 Third St. SW

507-226-8146 thaipopmn.com

r unners-up: Zen Fusion Hibachi & Lounge; First Meeting Noodle; Hunan Garden; Bebap Korean Eats; Pho Chau; Ichi Tokyo; Mango Thai; Ootori Sushi

Best PLACE FOR VEGETARIAN FOOD

winner: Old Abe & Co. 832 7th St. NW

507-271-0294 oldabecoffee.com

r unners-up: Bloom Acai Cafe; Indigo Açaí Bowls; Boxcar Hippie; Thai Pop; Forager Brewery and Cafe; Twigs; Nupa; Crisp & Green

Best MEXICAN PLACE

winner: Los Arcos Kitchen & Cantina 7386 Airport View Dr. SW

507-206-0302 3539 22nd Ave. NW 507-322-6047 losarcoskitchen.com

r unners-up: El Carambas; Boxcar Hippie; Fiesta Cafe Bar; Corona’s Tacos; Taco JED; Eddie’s Rey de la Birria; The Compadres

OUTSIDE OF ROCHESTER,

winner: The Hubbell House

502 N. Main St., Mantorville 507-635-2331 hubbellhouserestaurant.com

runners-up: Two Sister’s Kitchen in Oronoco; The Pondy Restaurant and Bar in Mazeppa; TT’s Tilted Tavern in Byron; Wildwood Sports Bar and Grill in Byron

RESTAURANT MORE THAN 30 MINUTES AWAY

winner: Taqueria Pato Azul in La Crosse

127 4th St. S, La Crosse, Wis. 608-519-3036 taqueriapatoazul.com

r unners-up: Four Daughters in Spring Valley; J&J BBQ in Nelson, Wis.; Juniper’s Restaurant in Lanesboro; Kelly’s Lake House Bar & Grill in Lake City; Dan’s Bar and Grill in Hampton; BJ’s Bar, Grill and Kampground in Theilman; Harbor View Cafe in Pepin, Wis.

Photo courtesy Hubbell House.

Photo courtesy Taqueria Pato Azul.

r unners-up: Bitter & Pour; Palmetto Room; Our Paladar; Bleu Duck Kitchen; The Tap House West End; Chester’s Kitchen and Bar; Marrow

r unners-up: Palmetto Room; Bitter & Pour; Purple Goat; The Thirsty Belgian; 1928 Cocktails and Bites

And Rochester’s Best

winner: Our Paladar

20 Fourth St. SE 507-206-0483

ourpaladar.com

r unners-up: Bleu Duck Kitchen; Marrow; Thai Pop; Five West; Victoria’s Ristorante & Wine Bar; Canadian Honker; Sorellina’s; Chester’s Kitchen and Bar

Last month, area experts told you how to build your financial foundation for 2025. Now it’s time to work toward those next-level financial goals.

"While you are working, you should be aiming to save away about 15% of your net income each month for retirement"

—Eric Funk

Crystal Hughley, AVP, Personal & Real Estate Lending, Eagle Rock Bank

Pay down those high-interest loans

“Paying off high-interest debt quickly frees up cash and improves creditworthiness, making it easier to qualify for better loans and achieve longterm financial goals. Focus on paying down credit cards, personal loans, or other high-interest debt. Use strategies like the avalanche method (paying off highest interest rates first) or the snowball method (starting with smaller balances to build momentum). Consider refinancing or consolidating loans to lower interest rates and streamline payments. A customer with a $20,000 auto loan at 8% interest might refinance to 4% and save over $2,000 in interest over the life of the loan. Redirect those savings to paying off principal faster.”

Build equity with strategic home improvements

“Increasing the value of your home benefits you by growing equity, which can be leveraged for future needs like renovations, investments, or debt consolidation through a home equity loan or line of credit. You will want to focus on high-ROI improvements such as kitchen upgrades, bathroom remodels, or energy-efficient systems. A $20,000 kitchen remodel could increase home value by $15,000–$18,000 while also making the property more appealing in the market.”

Drew Owen, CFP, Integrated Wealth Advisor, Carlson Capital Management

Start planning with insurance, taxes, a will, and more.

“Consider the interdisciplinary aspects of your financial picture and look for opportunities to optimize your situation.

If you’re in the wealth accumulation stage of your life, it’s important that you’re protecting yourself with the right insurance, tax planning (not just tax return preparation), estate planning, and more.

Standalone, one-off services may no longer be appropriate as you build wealth, so seek out expertise on your whole picture.

Finally, create or update an estate plan, and communicate with your partner or loved ones about it. Everyone should have a will, power of attorney, and healthcare directive in place. Even when these legal documents are complete, it’s important to think through the practical aspects of what will happen after your death.

Use a binder or online tool to centralize your documents and data, share passwords, and record the day-to-day things your loved ones will need to know in the days, weeks, and months after your death. Leaving this information in a wellorganized state is truly a gift for your survivors.”

Eric Funk, Emerald Financial Group-Thrivent, Rochester

Get that 'free money' from your employer match.

“Now that you understand where your money goes and have created a nice security blanket for yourself in the short-term, you may be wondering what the next step should be in continuing to secure your financial success in the long-term.

The next step in your financial journey should be to contribute the necessary amount to their employer-sponsored retirement plan.

Now you may be asking, how much would be the ‘necessary’ amount? To answer that question, I would tell you that you should find out from your employer how much they match for each contribution you make per pay period. This can vary depending on the employer, but average is about a 4% match. In this scenario, the employer would match your contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 4% of your salary. Meaning if you take 4% of your paycheck each pay period and contribute that amount to your employer-sponsored retirement plan, they will also contribute that amount.

It is essentially ‘free money.’ Taking advantage of this perk is one of the most crucial and beneficial ways that you can ensure you are properly saving for your retirement.

After ensuring to take advantage of this free money through your employer, you can further your savings even more by contributing to your own Traditional IRA or Roth IRA. Retirement is the end goal for everyone as they work through their career. Making sure that you have enough money saved away for that time in your life is crucial for a successful retirement.

While you are working, you should be aiming to save away about 15% of your net income each month for retirement. With a budget already in place you should be able to easily identify how you can accomplish this goal. The reason for putting away such a large portion of money into these retirement accounts is not just the growth potential from many years of saving, but also the tax benefits that are associated with each account.

A Roth IRA will allow your money to grow tax deferred with the opportunity for tax free withdrawals upon retirement, and the traditional IRA allows for tax deferred growth with contributions being possibly used for tax deductions.”

ROCHESTER

Learn the ABCs of your 401k

While it is important to take an active interest in your 401k, it is also important to consult with financial experts. Before you speak with a financial investment professional, such as a representative of the 401(k) institution, an independent financial planner, or a wealth management consultant, make sure you can answer these questions:

WHAT IS A 401(K) ANYWAY?

A 401(k) retirement plan is an employer-provided benefit that allows employees to save a percentage of their current income and defer the taxes on the investment and the earnings. That means you do not pay taxes on a portion of your current salary until you withdraw the funds. A 401(k) is a complex financial savings instrument, subject to changing government regulations. It is a smart idea to learn more about them. The best place to start is through your employer and through trusted sites.

WHAT ARE YOUR INVESTMENT GOALS?

The designated goal of a 401(k) is to provide for financial security in retirement. If you are closer to retirement, a more conservative strategy will buffer you from market ups and downs. In contrast, for those who are several years from retirement, a more aggressive strategy will provide an opportunity for growth as well as time for recovery from the downturns.

WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT FINANCIAL NEEDS?

A benefit of an employer-provided 401(k) is the funding match up to a specific percentage. If you are able to set aside the full percentage from your salary, do so. If your current financial obligations make that too difficult, contribute as much as you can now, and plan to increase the amount as circumstances change (e.g., salary increase).

— University of Minnesota Extension

"Take advantage of employer matchesit's free money!"

Sokha Yous, Financial Wellness Counselor, Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union

Maximize retirement contributions.

“If you’re already contributing to a 403(b), 401(k) or IRA, strive to increase contributions. For 2025, aim to hit the annual maximum limit if possible ($23,500 for a 403(b) or 401(k) under age 50 or $7,000 for an IRA). Take advantage of employer matches—it’s free money!”

Build passive income.

“Explore avenues like a side-hustle or second job, rental properties, or high-yield savings accounts. For instance, opening a Certificate of Deposit (CD) at your credit union can provide favorable and stable returns with minimal risk. This diversifies your income streams and accelerates financial independence.”

TAKE A DEEP BREATH

Sudden drops in the stock market are particularly unsettling if your retirement plan is a 401(k) benefit.

“Don’t panic” is the first piece of advice—and one that both financial experts and seasoned investors agree on. So hit the “pause button” before you pull all your retirement savings out of the market.

TAKE INVENTORY

Volatility in the market is normal, as are average higher returns in the long run, compared to guaranteed saving instruments (e.g., CDs). But no one can predict the timing, severity or duration of changes or returns.

Sudden drops can serve as a reminder to review your 401(k) account so that it reflects your tolerance for risk and that it is aligned with your financial goals.

TAKE ACTION

If you have an employer-provided 401(k), now is a good time to: Review the performance of the holdings in your account; and Speak with a representative of the institution managing the portfolio.

— Joyce Serido, Extension specialist and professor in Family Social Science, University of Minnesota Extension

Plan for— and use —your tax refund wisely

"You can use your tax refund to save for your overall financial security. Even small amounts can make a difference."

A tax refund is a welcome bonus. Whether it is $300 or $3,000, the way you use that money can have a real impact on your personal and financial well-being. Want a new computer? Better car? Flat-screen TV? Those items are attractive. But it’s important to consider whether buying something you want versus something you need is a good decision in the long run.

Here are some strategies to ensure that you make the best tax refund decisions for you and your family.

PLAN AHEAD BEFORE SPENDING.

W ithout a plan, you may spend impulsively. You may use the money on the first thing that comes to mind, but later realize something else was more important. Before you spend, take a moment to write down all the possibilities. Then identify which are the most important at this moment for you and your family.

PAY OFF BILLS.

Your first priority should be paying off bills you may have fallen behind on. These might be things like utilities, phone or internet. Prioritize debts so the ones with the highest interest rate get paid off first.

SAVE FOR NEEDS IN THE COMING YEAR. Set money aside to help you cover potential emergencies and occasional expenses. Saving money for emergencies can get you through unexpected small expenses like car repairs or medical bills. If you lose your job, an emergency fund can keep you afloat until you find another income source. Consider putting some of your tax refund into an emergency fund.

Occasional expenses, those big bills that come once a year or every few months, cause huge problems for families. Avoid problems by being ready for those bills! Use your tax refund to start a special savings fund and then keep adding to it throughout the year.

SAVE FOR SHORT- AND LONG-TERM FINANCIAL GOALS. Do you need a new refrigerator? Is a holiday coming up? Purchases like this are valuable, too. Some may be essential, while others simply add enjoyment to life.

SAVE FOR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SECURITY.

You can use your tax refund to save for your overall financial security. Even small amounts can make a difference. Adding just $500 a year to a retirement account, such as an IRA, can make a big difference over decades. Take this “small amount” plan one step further by making a monthly contribution if your budget allows for it. The interest will add up!

USE DIRECT DEPOSIT TO RECEIVE TAX REFUNDS FAST. Ask the IRS to split your direct deposit refund into up to three different accounts. These could be checking, general savings, health savings, retirement, or education savings accounts. This will help you meet your savings goals. For more information, see Form 8888: allocation of refund (including savings bond purchases) on the IRS website.

NEVER HAVE A TAX REFUND DEPOSITED INTO A BANK ACCOUNT OTHER THAN YOUR OWN.

Don’t ask for an advance on your tax refund. This carries a heavy surcharge. Don’t throw away part of your refund on loan fees.

University of Minnesota Extension

EmeraldFinancialGroup

Investedinameaningfuljourney

AtThrivent,webelievemoneyisatool—notagoal.Asaholistic financialservicesorganization,andamembership-ownedfraternal organization,providing financialadvice,investments,insurance, bankingandgenerosityprograms,wearecommittedtohelping youachieve financialclarity.Weareheretohelpprovidethe guidanceyouneedtolivethelifeyouwant.

Let’sconnect

EricFunk,FinancialConsultant AndyRoberts,Associate JohnMilliron,Associate

thrivent.com/emerald emeraldfinancialgroup@thrivent.com 507-289-1682

116EltonHillsLn.NW,Ste.200 Rochester,MN55901

The Walk-Through:

INSIDE A 1,520 SF BEACH HOME IN GILBERT, MN

The home: 6.7 acres, 440 feet of shoreline 1,520 square feet, 3 BED/ 1.5 BATH

The info: A professionally built, year round beach house on a private peninsula! This level 6.7 acre property includes 440 feet of lakeshore complete with a sand beach on beautiful Cedar Island Lake. Inside the home is an open living room with beamed ceilings, oak floors, a granite gas fireplace and a wall

of floor to ceiling lakeside windows offering stunning sunset views. The custom kitchen complete with stainless appliances, opens to the living room and lakeside deck. This gorgeous and well maintained, cedar sided home is complete with a heated 2 stall garage, gazebo, deck and patio, and dock. Conveniently located just 5 miles to Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort or 10 miles to Virginia.

Local Professional Expertise

Global Network | Unrivaled Personal Service | Ethics Committee Member

We listen to our clients and make buying or selling a straight-forward, transparent experience. Give us a call or send us an email and let’s get started today!

MARKETPLACE a selection of shops & services

DINING

the local table

{where we eat}

Looking for one of the region’s best restaurants? Local Table, our guide to some of the city’s best places to eat, offers options from burgers to bar food, buffets to breakfasts. In search of a romantic hotspot? Some of the city’s best Buffalo Wings? A happenin’ happy hour? The Local Table is your guide to where locals eat. (Pages 18-22)

SPECIALTY STORES

Galleria.

111 Broadway S. Shoppers will find a range of unique gift items, home decor, housewares, men’s apparel, games, and fashions for all ages. Clothing stores include: Hers, Poppi, Counterpoint, The Nordic Shop, and others. Gift items and housewares can be found at The Nordic Shop, Counterpoint Home, and Games by James.

Tyrol Ski & Sports. 1923 Second St SW. Selling quality outdoor gear since 1965. Featuring ski and snowboard equipment, snowshoes, winter clothing and footwear. Online at tyrolskishop. com. Winter Hours: Mon & Thurs 10-8, Tues, Wed, Friday 10-6; Sat 9:30-5:30; Sun 11-5. 507-288-1683.

ENTERTAINMENT

Rochester Civic Theatre. 20 Civic Center Dr SE. Just off Broadway in downtown Rochester, the Civic Theatre delivers a year-round slate of musical, drama, comedy, and young people’s theater productions. For a schedule of events, go to rochestercivictheatre.org, or call the box office at 507-282-8481.

Treasure Island. Just minutes north of Red Wing. Whether you’re looking for great food and drink, big cash drawings, a new car or free weekend entertainment—odds are you’ll find it at The Island. For more information call 800-222-7077. treasureislandcasino. com. The Island is calling! (See ad page 5)

BANKING

Mayo Employees

Federal Credit Union.

We are dedicated to helping members achieve their financial goals. 100% financing to qualified borrowers, first-time home buyer programs, fixed rate conventional mortgages, FHA and VA financing, competitive rates and fair fees, up to 100% home equity financing, residential loan program. Apply at mayocreditunion.org.

507-535-1460. (See ad page 75)

Eagle Rock Bank. Formerly ONB Bank. Where community banking means more than a new account; we build relationships! Offering a wide variety of banking products for both your personal and business needs. Two convenient locations with experienced bankers to assist you with your financial journey. Call us today at 507-280-0621! www.eaglerock.bank. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. (See ad page 73)

WHERE TO WORSHIP

First Presbyterian Church. 512 Third St SW. Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. Fellowship, 9-10 a.m. Christian Education, 10:15 a.m. worship. First Presbyterian Church is an inclusive community celebrating God with Energy, Intelligence, Imagination, and Love. Call 507-282-1618 or e-mail office@fpcrochester.org for information. May the Peace of Christ be with you!

Grace Lutheran Church. LCMS 800 East Silver Lake Dr NE. Worship services: Wednesday 6 p.m.; Saturday 6 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. Sunday School and Bible Class 10:30 a.m. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith...” Eph.2:8 NIV. We welcome you by God’s grace, will help you grow with God’s love, and prepare you to do His work. In addition to many mission projects in Rochester, Grace supports Lutheran Hour Ministries and is a member of Rochester Central Lutheran School Association. 507-289-7833, gracebythelake.org. Email: office@gracebythelake.org.

Redeemer

Lutheran Church. 869 7th Ave SE. Saturday: Worship 5:30 p.m. Sunday: Worship 8 and 10:40 a.m. Sunday School & Education Hour: 9:20 a.m. Welcome to Redeemer Lutheran Church where you’ll find a small neighborhood church atmosphere of friendship and fellowship. Our members are dedicated to doing the Lord’s work. Our mission and purpose at Redeemer are to glorify God through the gifts of the Holy Spirit and to provide opportunities for spiritual growth. 507-289-5147, redeemer-rochester.com. Email: office@redeemer-rochester.com.

10 (or so) questions with ... Wale Elegbede,

President of the Rochester NAACP; Director of Strategy Management Services at Mayo Clinic

Rochester Magazine: You emailed to let me know you’d be seven minutes late [to meet at Cafe Steam at Discovery Square]. Are you the “seven minutes late” guy?

Wale Elegbede: No. I’m usually five minutes late.

RM: Ha. I’m going to give you some names. I may butcher the pronunciation. Remy Shittu Remy, Tunde Adekoya, Olutayo Martins, Sunny Emman Olamilokun.

WE: Yes. You totally butchered all of those names. These were all classmates of mine in the Nigerian Navy School. The last one was the commandant, like a principal.

RM: Tell me about that school. That was basically your high school?

WE: Yes. Before I went to the Navy School in Nigeria, I lived in Lome, Togo, and went to an American elementary school there. We had people from 16 countries, and I appreciated the diversity.

RM: But the Nigerian Navy School was completely different.

WE: It was totally different. My dad and my uncle wanted me to have a more structured military discipline. I started there at 13. It was really regimented. We woke up at 5 a.m. You had morning chores. You had to make your bed. You had to cut the grass. And it’s not like you’re using the lawnmower. You’re using a cutlass to cut grass, right? And then after that, you’re jogging and then you have parade and then classes.

RM: Wow.

WE: We also had team accountability. If somebody failed or did something bad, we all got punished.

RM: That must have been a lot for a 13-year-old to handle.

WE: And I lost my dad when I was 13 years old. I had started at the school, and then he passed. So losing my father was really instrumental because now I was in a different country and a different school.

RM: That’s devastating. And two years later, in 1994, your uncle [Babatunde Elegbede, Chief of Nigeria’s Defence Intelligence Agency] was assassinated.

WE: Yes. There was obviously contention between my uncle and the Nigerian dictator. My plan had always been to be a soldier like my uncle, but after he got assassinated it became clear to me strategically that there was no path for me in Nigeria.

RM: So decided to come to the U.S. You chose UW-La Crosse.

WE: It was all about getting an American education. I had an uncle in Houston, but I ultimately went to UW-La Crosse because a family friend that had taught there.

RM: That must be a tough transition.

WE: It’s not easy. You’re paying the out-of-state rate, and you can’t work. My sponsor fell through. One of the lowest points of my life was living in an apartment in La Crosse, and looking in the kitchen and literally not having a single grain of rice to eat. No money. Nothing. I realized I needed to reach out for help. My uncle in Houston sent me a box of food. That got me through. But I got my education, and then I started my software career.

RM: I’m going to give you some phrases. Describe each. First: The immigrant experience.

WE: One of the reasons why the United States is the strongest and most innovative country in the world is because we attract people from all over the world and we bring that talent in.

RM: Next: Director of Strategy Management Services at Mayo.

WE: The vision of the job really aligned to me and any role that involves innovation and transformation.

RM: Final one: Luxury fashion.

WE: That goes to entrepreneurship. We’re making some capital investments in Nigeria to bring authentic quality products into the United States. I think when it comes out, you will say, “This is totally Wale.” It reflects what I wear. It reflects the fashion that my wife wears.

RM: Your style is clearly something you put effort into. When I walked in [to Cafe Steam] were you like, “Man, I could really help this guy with his fashion.”

WE: Well, yeah, I definitely could help you with some fashion tips.

RM: That hurts, but it’s fair. Tell me about your kids.

WE: Zara, she’s in grad school, and just doing fantastic in academics, fantastic in sports. Jacob is a lab assistant in Mayo Clinic right now doing a lot of great photography stuff. Idris, our youngest, is 13 and another talented kid, doing drums and Code Ninjas (a computer coding class).

RM: Most embarrassing hobby?

WE: I don’t think it’s embarrassing, but Audrey and I love to dance. We watch a video at home, it’s called “Show Her Off, Date Night Dancing!” We dance together and figure out moves.

RM: Do you go out as well?

WE: The Chateau has been doing a lot of dance classes. We go dance there on Mondays.

RM: I can’t say that’s embarrassing, but then I haven’t seen you dance.

WE: Well, you should come out to Chateau sometime.

Photo by Olive Juice Studios

Be

Pelvic Health & Specialt y Care

You’re always there for the people in your life. The OMC Women’s Health Pavilion is here to see you, hear you, and suppor t you and help you be there for you. For easy-to-access care, visit olmstedmedicalcenter org/women or call 507. 529.6605.