Real Milwaukee | November 10, 2026

Well a viral social media joke sent hundreds of people out to Chicago's Millennium Park over the weekend. Yeah, it was all in a wild attempt to push the bean seven inches to the left. So this started with an online flyer asking people to meet at the sculpture on Sunday and push it. The Flyers stated reason was a running internet joke that there's a man trapped inside the beam. So, about 250 people gave it a try, but they failed to move the 110-ton structure at all. Like a Trojan horse. It was like standing room only. I saw this online. I thought it was hysterical because I'm like, the thing is so heavy. They're not going to move it. But, like, besides the front line, all the people in the back, like, what are we doing? Are we pushing each other? Yes. It's immovable. There's a man living in there. Maybe he's happy. He gets a lot of visitors, people looking at him. You know, can you imagine that? They're having an escape down into the ground and he comes back up whenever he wants. And that's his home. Yeah, that would be. That was his break. He was right. Right. This is a sweet looking home then. And what does he see from the inside out? We see reflection. Does he see us? He sees it all. And he's seeing all the things. Probably. You know, that's like a like a fantasy kind of a story. You know, the bean doesn't do it for me. No, you don't like the reflection. I think it's so interesting. See, I just think it's kind of ugly. I mean, granted, it's such a big deal down there. I think there's way cooler things to see in Chicago than that. Yeah, but obviously you've got to check that off, though, if you're a first-timer, you know, like I was when I went to Chicago. I just think the sculpture is interesting in terms of, like, It's seamless, you know what I mean? So it's like how it's created I find fascinating. How did they create it? Did they just drop it there? Like, who put it there? I don't remember the story behind it. I have no idea. And also, how many people showed up for that? Were we just participating in something fun, or were we gullible? Like, what about those? Both, you think? Maybe both, yeah. I don't think I've... People love a good thing to rally around, and that was that, you know, I suppose. I can get on board. Do you ever wonder when you see stuff like that? Like, where do you work? You know what I mean? Like, you're hanging out like that on a Monday? I'm like, no. Y'all ain't got a clock in? You know what I mean? Like, the cooking book distribution, that was a Saturday. Like, that was different. I mean, take us back to two weeks ago. All of the work was canceled that day. The school was canceled. Thank you so much. Yeah, you know it's serious when the Catholic schools cancel. That's when it's like, this is serious. Exactly. Well, speaking of rallying together, last week we rallied for a wonderful organization very close to my heart, Best Buy. Buddies, champion of the year was last Thursday night at the Pfister. They host us every year, and they do such a good job with all their galas. So, yeah, we raised $250,000 for inclusion and programs. That's a nice picture. Thank you. Yes, that's my girl, Kate. She was one of the... We have a great panel of champions who is fundraising and that's my buddy Sam. We've got to give him some love because he is just the best. I think we've got Claire coming up here, too. She's wonderful as well. So yeah, there's my girl Claire. So it's just a nice little reunion every year. It's a wonderful turnout, too, that you guys got. It was really good. Yes, thank you. We had the most number of tables we've ever had. So for everybody who participated, thank you. Yeah, we got a nice boost this year, too, from... Our guys self-relax. Was he there? He was not here. You know, they had a long season. Sure. You want to go home and see your fam and do all that. But I think that was like the number one question from the buddies. Right. It's now coming. Well, we'll see him next year, hopefully. He did a fundraiser for us last July, a game night. And the plan is for him to do another one next year. Okay, nice. Well, he was represented in spirit, it seems like. He was, he was. That's awesome. And an auction item, I should mention. But yes, he's always very generous. Well, thanks for sharing that. He was the auction item? No. That I think would go south. I think that would go the distance, right? He normally donates to the auction. He's got some connections with the Brewers. So yeah, he's wonderful. We're very blessed to have him. So yeah, it was a great night. Good stuff. Shall we get the bubbler started, you guys? It is time. Let's do it. All right, well. A free food table was set up in Milwaukee's River West community with the best intentions, might I add. But some neighbors in the area say it's feeding a different kind of problem. Rodents. Yikes. Yeah, somebody filed a complaint Sunday with the Department of Neighborhood Services. And volunteers at the Bremen Community Garden say they've discouraged people from leaving perishable food items to kind of try to keep the critters away. If things don't change, though, they say that free food table may have to go away completely. We've seen them now for the last year. They're out there at night or early in the morning. I guess we just have to monitor it and, yeah, possibly just take it down if it continues to be like that. Well, the City Department of Neighborhood Services says they have plans to inspect the site at some point or another, but... Come on, we've got to pick the food up and donate non-food. I think that too, but it's also, there's a garden there. So you're thinking about the fresh foods and the fruits and vegetables and things like that. You know, animals kind of nibble on things and draws more. But I also think part of the issue is the bins. People are trying to be helpful and they're bringing things, but they're not in the bins. You know? Exposed. They're just dropping it off. Exactly. So sometimes volunteers were able to kind of go around, clean things up because, you know, They're saying there is a need and folks are coming. They're coming to it, so they don't want to get rid of it, but they're just, excuse me, asking folks to kind of help out in terms of the presentation of it all. Maybe that would help, and they're not totally blaming that on the rodents either, but, you know, there's been an uptick. It's an issue anywhere, you know. Restaurants have that problem. Milwaukee, we know that. A lot of apartments have that issue by their dumpsters. Where there's food, you're going to get these pests. I'm just thinking about, you know, for the folks who this is for, to serve, you know, they don't... They deserve better than rat infested. I mean, that's not healthy or safe for them or anyone. I know a lot of the sound that we got was with neighbors who were kind of upset about it. But I'm thinking, like, for the people who would want to take advantage of this. Yeah, we can do better by that. We can. I think it also sets a tone. I don't know if you guys remember Greendale and that one baker that was putting stuff out, you know, and I feel like this is the possibility of what could happen. The good idea is problematic if there are infestations. So hopefully they can fix the bins. You said something about the bins. Now, are they covered as well or is it just an open bin? Because that might be an idea to have racks. With covered bins, and that would alleviate any kind of rodent problem. The challenge that you find, too, with, I mean, they are persistent. Sure. So a lot of times, even if there is a bin, yeah, if there is a bin, they will enter it. And that location is also between, like, a bar and a restaurant, too. So you think about the other garbage that's nearby. So it's not necessarily that place that's causing a problem, but. They're eating good. It's like their Thanksgiving feast all around you before the holidays. Okay, so tomorrow is Veterans Day, and this morning, the Milwaukee VA is hosting its annual Veterans Day program. It begins at 11 in the Unity Chapel at the Zablocki VA Medical Center. It will feature live patriotic music, keynote remarks from two local veterans. And a luncheon for veterans will follow the ceremony. I love that the days are getting started now in celebration for tomorrow. And we want to make CAMO your cause as well. Fox 6 is proudly saluting our nation's veterans and the organizations that serve them every day. We believe that our veterans deserve to live with dignity and independence and not on the streets. That's why we're making CAMO our cause in support of the Honor U.S. Vets campaign. You can... Join us by making a donation and wearing camo this Veterans Day. So then, also, we want you to post camo on social media with the hashtag HonorUSVets. So to donate and learn more on how you can help US Vets, scan the QR code right there on your screen or visit go.fox.usvets. These people represent the best of us. You know what I mean? Their patriotism, their service, what they stand for. We've got to do right by them. Totally. Totally agree. This is great news, too, here. Obviously, we haven't moved on from the world champion Brewers, and neither has the rest of the league. Brewers manager Pat Murphy, a finalist for National League Manager of the Year. If he wins tonight, that means that that's three years in a row for the skipper. This year, Murph's up against the Phillies manager Don Mattingly, who took over that team back in April, and then Braves manager. Walt Weiss, who led Atlanta to an NL East title. The winner's going to be announced at 6 tonight. I thought this was already done. I know. We think it's already done. Yeah, kind of. Like, if he doesn't get it, is it rigged? Right. Right at this point. It's not in a year. It's in a year. It's got to be. It's cherry on top for all they've accomplished. Yeah, he just seems like a cool dude, you know, because obviously it's like he takes the job really seriously. He's incredibly talented. But he also seems like there's like a levity. Yes. Oh, for sure. The way he approaches. The locker room and the players, it seems like they have fun and he fosters that. At the end of the day, yes, this is a big business. This is a sport, and we need to keep it fun. So, good for him. Hopefully, we'll be staying tuned for 6 o'clock tonight. Sure. So, this is kind of interesting, kind of looking back on the summer and cruise season. Port Milwaukee celebrating the completion of a record-breaking 2026 cruise season. The Department of City Development says Milwaukee welcomed nearly 20,000 passengers from around the world this past summer. Throughout the season, Port Milwaukee recorded 62 cruise ship calls between eight individual vessels. The season also marked a milestone with the arrival of the American Cruise Lines, which launched its Great Lakes itineraries through Port Milwaukee this year. As we know, this is great for us and for our community because they, as you can see there, get off and explore. Tourism boost right there. Yeah, we've made such an investment in that port area, too. It's nice to see the boom coming with it. So, good for us. Speaking of nice to see things, how about this? Beginning to look a lot like the holidays in Cathedral Square Park, y'all. More than 2,300 students from 101 schools around the area will help transform Cathedral Square Park into what's called Community Spirit Park. This is all a part of the 28th annual Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival. Each school will be responsible for decorating a tree in the park with handmade ornaments. The decorating starts today and will run through November 18th. We've had Andrew Muzo out there kind of getting us ready. It was nice to see it lit up when it was dark before the sun came up. It just came alive, you know. It's beautiful. And I love that the kids are not only getting excited about the holiday, they're putting little messages, too, on there. But they take pride in knowing that they're part of the city's decorations. You know, every time they walk by it. Yeah, I got to tell you, too, if you're going out in that area, Cathedral Square, It is beautiful at nighttime. Yeah, it is. Go for a little cocktail. It kind of adds to the spirit, if you will. Everything lights up there. I'm starting to speak now. I love it. I love walking through the streets, though, and seeing all the lights. Oh, it's the best. It's the season. And speaking of which, speaking of holidays, Lakefront Brewery's Black Friday Limited Edition, the release tradition continues. So this year, they are featuring four unique beers plus a new sparkling mead. So this is the 16th year of their Black Friday beer release, Black Friday Burritos. Ooh, do they have those last year? I don't remember them having that. A little coffee also. That'll be available at their food truck. So that's starting at 6 a.m. The beer hall doors open at 8. All right. So looking at the new four, we've got an Imperial Stout, a triple black IPA. Oh, my gosh. That stout ABV, 13.38. That'll do. Yeah, all right. I'll take it over the edge. Keep you warm that morning. The triple black IPA, that sounds good. Oh, there's an imperial coffee and cacao nib stout. So kind of like heavy, rich winter beers, if that's your thing. These, 13.44 ABV, okay. Wait a minute, wait a minute. You're about to be leaning in line. The next one, the five-year imperial stout. So this one is aged in bourbon barrels for five years. 15.72. Wow, I see why there's a line. All right. No, but they really have some good notes, all different four of these, you know? We are the only city, I think, that tailgates for a Black Friday beer release. That's so true. I mean, is that true? Like, are your bonfires out there? I think they got beer. We worked a Black Friday. You worked with me, right? Because it was such a tradition for people. Yes, yes. It was my first time seeing that, obviously. And I was like, what are we doing? Camped out? He could not believe it. No. I was like, no, no, no, no. They're out there. And it was cold, I believe. Yes. I mean, it was cool to see. Good for y'all showing up. And people get there pretty early, right? Yes. If there's one thing I think I've learned this year, it's that Milwaukee can really tough out a line. Oh, for sure. Lines don't bother us. Like, we will, if anything, it adds to the experience. No matter the weather, seemingly. Right. Like, the anticipation adds to the experience. Well, I'm so glad this is back. And, you know, it's kind of fun, too, how they mix it up every year with the beers that they offer. Because people, this is like an annual thing for them. So you've got to keep them coming back. Yes. So if you do go, it's also for a good cause. So they're announcing the return of Warm Hearts Community Coat Drive, and it's going to be benefiting students at George Washington Carver Elementary. Oh, nice. So guests who donate a new or gently used or laundered coat suitable for kids ages 3 to 14 will receive a one-bottle or can of Retro Black Friday. So that's great, too. So they're encouraged to, you know, bring colorful, youth-appropriate shirts. Jackets, I'm sorry. Gloves, hats, winter coats. So, you know, they're for a good cause. Hey, I love that. I love that. Well, speaking of making a difference with coats, let's bring you to this. We are ready to keep the kiddos warm as well with our 42nd Annual Fox 6 Coats for Kids Drive. We need your help, though, with this. You can donate new or gently used coats to Steinhof, Landmark Credit Union, or the Salvation Army through December 6th. If you don't have a coat, you can give. You can just donate money by scanning the QR code right here on the screen. It is a safe way to make a difference here. That money will be used to buy a brand new coat for the campaign. If you want more information about this, just head to our website, Fox6Now.com. And with that, folks, we'll be right back with more of Milwaukee on the other side of the break. Okay, welcome back everybody. So world-renowned acapella group Pentatonix is hitting the road once again for their Christmas in the city. They are so talented. Yeah, Gino spoke with them ahead of their stop at Fiserv Forum this weekend. Gino, you know how well they sing. They're incredible to watch. Oh, and I'm so envious of those great voices. I spoke with Matt Sallee and Kevin Olusola, and they definitely feel the love from the audience. So this is always a great time of year when you're touring, and in Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum, people are going to turn out as they always do. What does it mean to you, Kevin, for that audience that's always so loyal and supportive? Oh man, it is so cool that 15 years that we've been doing this, that fans still come to listen to this music that we've created. It's so fun. I mean, I don't think any of us could have ever imagined that we would have this type of longevity and that we would have this type of relationship with the fans. And that the fans span from four years old all the way to 80. Like one of my favorite things is seeing a family, a grandmother, a mother, a daughter, A great granddaughter all come and they say, this is the music that we all agree on, which is so, so, so special. So we just thank the fans so much for allowing us to do what we get to do best and allowing us to serve them with beautiful music that we love. Matt, tell me the first time you met. What was it? Where was the first meeting? And did you know that you this was going to be something that was so important in your life? Well, for me specifically, I met Pentatonix at a workshop. I've always been a fan of the group. Before I joined the group in 2012 I actually got to meet them and so it was a full-circle moment when I actually ended up joining the group in 2017 and so there's so many stories just like that where people have encountered Pentatonix and be like Hey, yeah, I saw them. I heard that I heard you on the train. I heard you, you know on the news There's so many different types of stories like that and from so many different demographics of people and so it's really special And it's an honor to be able to perform and to be able to impact so many different cultures and so many different people from all around the world. Like, we travel the world and see how our music is impacted, and so it's just really, it's a blessing, for sure. I don't care. We were just looking up, too, how, like, famous they are. Yeah, how long they've been together. 15 years. I mean, there's been iterations, but people go to this every single year looking forward to it. It's amazing what they can do. Yeah, and, you know, typically, you know, artists on tour, they perform the same songs over and over, but how do they keep it fresh knowing that... They're going to perform the same song 25 times. Ryan, it's as if you knew that's exactly what I asked them. When you do songs over and over, how do you keep it fresh? Is it the reaction from the audience? Is it looking out at the faces? You know for me it's remembering why I'm here. There are people that are coming either for the first time or the fifth time and they have spent their hard-earned money to be able to come to our shows. They've saved up for a year to bring their whole family to come see us. So for me whenever I remember that intention it allows me to go out there and give my absolute best. Like it's the first time that I've ever sung Hallelujah, the first time I've ever sung Mary Did You Know, Because they deserve that kind of. That performance. And so we love doing that. We want them to get like it's the first time we've ever performed. Man, these guys, just. Gino, do you have a favorite Christmas carol that perhaps they might sing or Christmas song anyway? I have to say they don't always do just like the traditional Christmas carol. So I'm always happy to hear something new. But what is so amazing to me is that, you know, they tour around the country and something when they were here last time stood out in their mind about Milwaukee. I remember the first time we went to Pfizer, they made a block of cheese with our names engraved in it, and they brought us Chick-fil-A, they brought us jerseys, I mean, we gotta come back, we love coming to Pfizer. That's why we're back, 100%. That is great. Our people here. We're talking about a Wisconsin welcome. The reality in West. America's Dairyland. That's why we have that name. We're going to do people and cheese. Yes, they're here Saturday night at Fiserv Forum. An enjoyable show. And get you in the Christmas spirit early. Yeah, pick it up the holiday season. Thank you, Gino. Thank you. See ya. There are so many good Christmas shows. There are so many good Christmas songs out there. I wonder what they will perform in their own way. I guess we've got to buy a ticket and see. All righty, more Real Milwaukee returns right after this. Well, you don't need a class or a textbook to explore science, technology, engineering, and math. Not at all, guys. Speech-language pathologist and toy expert Eric Cartamon, a.k.a. our good friend here, has to help us celebrate what's called National STEM Day. This is wonderful because it gets the kids, A, to be creative, but also problem-solve. Yeah, that's right. And you know what I love about STEM learning is it's not about getting it right the first time. It's about the process and having the curiosity and the confidence to keep trying and figure it out. So we're going to start with our S, which is science here. And this is the Nova Crystal Science Kit by Mindware. So this is a hands on experiment. Well, each little box has a different experiment inside. So it's going to transform that chemistry piece into a visual experience for kids as they grow their own. sparkling crystals. So they're going to follow a procedure. They're going to measure ingredients and they're going to see what happens to liquids as they change into a different matter form into their crystals here. So check this out. It's so fun. So my seven-year-old is so proud of her little crystal tree here that started as a liquid and some paper. And now it's like this very cool Cool decorative tree that she is. Pretty much obsessed with but really fun here. So they're encouraging that like scientific inquiry that patients observation and just to kind of see how things change over time. So I really love this. Some really good surprising results in here and lots to do. There's so many different ways to learn for the kids too. It's like we didn't have this 10 years ago, five years ago. It just keeps getting better. Okay, so we hit up the ass now to the teen side. You know, robots, they're a thing. Why not break them out for six year olds, right? Yes, this is your new robot bestie. This is Emotobot by Just Play. So we're going to see that interactive technology here take form with a little robot companion that responds, reacts, and moves. So this is great as kids kind of understand the input and output of technology there. So, I mean, how cute, right? You probably hear it talking. It's got a mind of its own. It does. Yeah. This is one hours of fun just to learn how to turn it off. So much good stuff. There's so many different learning elements there. So they're understanding that, like, give and take. I actually love dance mode. It's my favorite part. Donovan, can you find dance mode? You know what? I'm going to try. I think I was in talk mode. Before the end of the segment, we're going to find dance mode. We're in the mode about dance. Oh, Erica, I don't even begin to know where dance mode is on this thing. Yeah, well, you kind of, it's like, it's... It's definitely that voice-activated piece in there. The kids are going to learn to listen, follow directions, and then I love that it's a bit of that movement component in there too. But really that's... Yeah, it's so fun. That STEM takeaway is like the cause and effect, that robotics, and just that logical thinking as they're, you know, reinforcing communication and listening skills. That is awesome. Okay, so we have the tech. Now we have to learn how to engineer the tech that we have. But you have a great one here with Bridge or Bust by Upper Story. Yes, this is amazing. This covers that engineering piece of our challenge. Yeah, so I've got part of the bridge assembled here. So this is like that hands-on construction challenge. have to figure out how to get this wind-up truck safely across the bridge. So they're working on distance and, you know, like force and all that stuff. And as you can see in that video there, once the bridge collapses, it's not like a full rebuild. Kids just have to identify that weak point in there and then work to see where, you know, where that crash happened. So it's a, you know, it's not catastrophic when something doesn't go their way. So really fun to rebuild Test that process of, you know, guess and check and that logical thinking piece. Over 60 different challenges in there with increasing complexity, so it gives them some confidence. And there's a really fun storytelling element in there as well. But one box, tons of learning that's going to last, like, not just one day, but many days. Oh, that's all-encompassing. It really is. Oh, that's pretty cool. Speaking of cool, how about this one, the Chomp Saw, in honor, I guess, of the M in STEM, math. A good way to problem solve, I understand. Yes, yes. So the Chomp Saw is a kid-friendly cardboard cutting tool here. So it's pretty much a power tool, but it's like totally safe for kids to use. So they're using that mathematical thinking in here. They're going to measure, they're going to plan some of that geometry component because kids can cut straight lines, they can cut curves, all sorts of stuff. Is it on there? I don't know if you guys need to hit that on, but you got a power source? I think Brian is trying to figure out how to use it. I'm a dad of a 10-year-old. I don't know how to work things. Yeah, mine isn't connected to the power source in here, but it is like a plug-in tool there. Yeah, I don't know. So you have to press it harder. Is it buzzing? It is buzzing. He's working it out. Oh my gosh, it's not even figuring it out. Leave it to the younger guys. No, I'm kidding. Oh, man. Yes, so lots of good stuff here. As kids are like working on bringing those designs to life in there, they can kind of work on their own pieces, or they also have this subscription service, which I really love, that provides different templates so kids can create designs. Yeah, based on these that are just, that, you know, get mailed to you and love this as part of as part of their process here to kind of create more 3D objects and work again on that mathematical thinking, but also that engineering component in there, too, because they're making their ideas really, you know, really happen. I want to apologize for that. I am the guy that only had a hammer and a screwdriver when I moved into my house. Well, you could start with chainsaw. There's still time. Yeah, there's still time. Still learning. Kinetics is always amazing. This 47-piece His ball run launcher pack is wow. Yeah, you bet. So the launcher is like the new component in here, which I love because it's incorporating a little bit of that physics because the ball kind of goes up and around as kids are experimenting with heights and. Force and all of that sort of stuff, the angles and different kinds of positioning as they try to get their ball from one destination to the end. Again, I think the magic is really in the process where they're guessing and checking, they're figuring out what's working, what isn't working, how much force applied, do I need to change my track? So this is another great one, of course, compatible with all your other magnetic tiles, which I love, but they're taking it to the next level and really thinking of that STEM learning into this pack. Hey, Champ, the next one sounds like a winner, too. Is this a Spider-Man-themed contraption, if you will? It's called the Gravitrax Spider-Man Gravitrax, excuse me. No, this is amazing. So the Spider-Man-themed Gravitrax by Ravensburger is this action-packed marble run where kids kind of, again, create this marble design, and they have to get their marble to... From A to B. And I love the Spider-Man theme here because it's got some of those storytelling elements with the different villains and different pieces of Spider-Man. So this is a great one. And this XXL set is on sale at Costco in U.S. and Canada. So look for it there. This is going to be an amazing holiday gift. And the kids are learning all sorts of design and engineering with this one, too. Oh, man. My godson is a huge Spider-Man fanatic with Spider-Man for Halloween most recently. This is up his alley. He was Spider-Man? He was Spider-Man for Halloween. You're like, Donovan's going shopping. That's right. I want to tell parents, too, if they're getting into this, there's more than just the Spider-Man and Marvel. They have other great franchises that you can score, too. Yeah, and different accessories that you can do. So it's compatible with all those other GraviTrax sets. GraviTrax is a whole movement, so definitely check it out. Awesome stuff, Erica. I mean, this Lincoln Logs was a thing, like, you know. These two together, you have the new age of design, build, and more. Team STEM, thank you for bringing all of your knowledge. Again, the coolest mom on the block over there. Erica Cardamon, thanks for joining us today. Thanks, guys. Take care. All right, we're going to put this one aside for a dot event, and we'll be right back. I think Charlie Barron is joining us. I think so, man. All right, Charlie Barron's on. Coming up next, fingers crossed. All right, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is officially kicking off their annual food for the holidays campaign. Our Andrew Muzu is live with one of the campaign ambassadors helping to fight hunger and feed hope in our community this holiday season. Hey there, Andrew. How's it going guys? It's definitely been a holiday filled morning so far. We've been at Cathedral Square Park talking about that, the WeEnergy's cookie book. Now we are here at Feeding America because there's more to the holidays and just about the lights and all the gifts and all those things. It's about giving back and so all throughout the morning we've been previewing that and now we get to be joined by here on Real Milwaukee. Charlie Behrens, how are you doing? I'm doing really good, Andrew. How are you doing? Doing all right. Doing all right. It's really cool to be able to see so many volunteers out here. And I know that you've been from this area. They have sort of been like, okay, Charlie's here. This is something that you are also making sure that you're getting the word out about tis the season for giving, tis the season for volunteering, all of those things. Yeah, I mean, that's a cool thing. Like Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin last year gave away 2 million meals, and this year. I think we're trying to beat that, but there's so many different ways to do it, whether like you're in the store and you want to drop some in the box, or if you want to just donate money, or as you can see, there's a lot of folks here like volunteering their time, just packing this stuff up. A lot of these folks I met just before, they're from the archdiocese, okay? And so as a Catholic myself, I know how this works, you know, you kind of do this and you get out of purgatory quicker. Yeah, and if you don't know, purgatory is that place between heaven and hell. Right, yeah. Peoria, if you're familiar. So I gave that, you know, for you since you're from the Illinois, yeah, originally. Pretty far from Peoria. But you know what I'm talking about. So anyways, it's either this or buy indulgences. So what we're doing is we're stacking these boxes. You want me to show you? Yeah, let's show to see what people, because if they're interested, they might want to do this soon. I put two jerkies in every box just to make sure. At least two jerkies per box. Uh, what makes the whole thing sing, you know, and jerky is a great meal that you can like put in your pocket. You can put half in your pocket, little pocket jerky goes a long way. So that's actually, I don't know if I could put that in my pocket, but if you split it in half or you curl it, you know, it's a very versatile, uh, food source. And then of course we get the cereals in there and, uh, we got a lot of cooking supplies. Um, you know, you can get your whole taco situation. Check this out. I put these in. I was excited about where to go. Oh, it's just cooking oil, which, uh, I mean, it goes up to 535 degrees Fahrenheit. Now for a guy who burns a lot of his stuff, uh, this is, this comes in handy. I know. So yeah, a lot of great stuff people have donated and we just put it in the boxes. We get them pretty full here, you know. But then do you guys just take it from these bins and you sort them out right there? So, yeah, and there's so many volunteers doing so many different levels. They start over there, they kind of come here to get, like, general stuff, and then you pop it out there and you kind of separate it out so everyone's getting peanut butter, cereal, like some cooking supplies, and you just kind of give everyone a little bit of everything is sort of the trick here. And then, yeah, you just tape them up and they're on the pallets. And then the coolest job that they haven't let me do yet is the forklift driver. Why haven't they let you do that? Or maybe it's to come. They've seen enough to know I shouldn't be operating heavy machinery, but I'm hoping that at some point I can graduate to that element. I think it would be great. Yeah, I mean, maybe I just got to do a little more, get more brownie points of some sort, you know what I mean? Andrew, I've got to bribe the forklift driver, okay? He already made his price known, and I'm working on it. Beef jerky apparently didn't cut it, but we'll get there. We'll get there soon. Well, Charlie, I think this is truly something that people People can look at and they're like, you know what, whether you're Charlie Barron's, whether I'm in fifth grade, whether whatever I am, it doesn't matter where you come from being able to help out. In this setting, especially during this time of year when there's so much need, I think that's something that inspires so many people too. Yeah, and all across Wisconsin this is happening. Even our farmers are donating food and helping fulfill this as well. So it's like all across Wisconsin this is coming together. There's a lot that goes into these boxes, not just physically but emotionally. You know? Yeah, and you're joined by so many other people here. There's even another group right down there that is getting ready to continue that effort as well. I think they're packing up some Gushers. Wasn't really a big Gushers thing growing up, but still, they're doing the work. Yeah, you weren't a Gushers guy, huh? Fruit roll-ups, I mean, fruit snacks, regular fruit snacks. Yeah, you just didn't like the middle of the Gushers? Was that the problem with the Gushers? The texture, just the concept of it. Well, you know, you've got to refine your tastes, I think, a little bit. You'll get there eventually with the Gushers. But anyway, it's not about the Gushers. Yeah, you're right, you're right. It's about, yeah, all these people donating their time, doing an incredible thing for Wisconsin. Yeah, for sure. Charlie, we appreciate it. I appreciate you. Let's send it back to the anchors, unless you guys have anything that you guys want to say. But yeah, definitely a lot of, yeah. Excuse me, Charlie's been doing this for years and just want to know what has he seen over time of things change, the need change and how people have stepped up over the years? Yeah, Charlie, they're saying that you've done this for years now. How have you seen the need change, grow, anything like that over the years? Well, I think especially recently, you know, you kind of have this thing where there's sort of a gap between the rich and the less rich, and the whole, it's tough to afford things, you know, especially with diesel prices up, that's all the shipping, and it's That goes down to everybody's pocket and gas being up and whatnot. So the very simple things of just having food are important to get. And we've certainly, I think, seen the need grow in recent years. So it just makes it all the more important. But, you know, You know, I think it's, you know, just a box at a time. People will be less hungry, so that's all this is about, you know, a box at a time. Was that all they wanted to ask? Because you were listening for a long time. Were they talking smack about me? No, no, all good things. I wish that you could hear as well. They're laughing. They're having a good time. That's all you guys wanted to ask? I'm pretty sure, right? I think that's all we have time for. Yeah. And I'm sure he's keeping the workers laughing, too. See, now he's keeping track, now, because it's been silent for him, so now he's like, what's going on? Will you tell him hello for us, and thank you for his generosity and his time. Yeah. Yes, sir. Yeah. They say hello. Oh, that was it? That was it? That was like a 20-second break and they say hello? Okay. We got beef now. They're probably saying, didn't he wear that same shirt last year? Yes, I did. Okay. It's my good flannel. My church flannel. All right? I love it. Yeah. And it doesn't smell, does it, Andrew? No. It doesn't smell? No, it doesn't smell, man. Okay. Thank you. Not a single stench. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. You could have said, no, you actually smell good, Yeah, he smells good, guys. but you said not a single. He smells good. You guys are annoying. We keep getting the rap, but I want to keep this funny. I know. He's a class act. He really is. Yeah, you can tell he's a comedian, like, all the time. Yeah. All right, we'll be right back. Stay with us. Keeping kids busy and moving inside all winter long. Parenting contributor Carly DeRogge is joining us now live with some fun new ideas from Fisher Price. Perfect timing, Carly, as I think a lot of parents and Santa are going to be looking for some good gift ideas. Absolutely. You know, as a mom, I'm always looking for gifts that kids are still going to like maybe after January 3rd, right? And not just thrown in the corner. And then also looking for high quality toys and gifts that encourage kids to take the lead. You know, we want that open ended play. It's really important because children, we don't want them just following instructions. We actually want them using their imaginations, solving problems and building that confidence. So these are things parents should be looking for or Santa when building that list. All right, well, Leo, let's get started because obviously you want them to enjoy it, but you want them to learn a little bit. So as a child development specialist, what should parents look for when they're choosing the toys? Yeah, we want to look for that open ended play, right? I love a toy that has longevity and will grow with the child. You know, kids change very rapidly. So if that toy can kind of hit them at different developmental milestones, that's what we want to look for. Really excited today about this Fisher Price Your Way collection. This is their first full playroom collection that has a nice cohesive look, which is important to me as a mom. And the pieces are designed to work together or individually on their own. So when we talk about developmental toys. Love these foam blocks for the toddlers. They're jumbo, they're soft, they're fantastic for building and stacking and experimenting. But when we think about those developmental milestones, they're learning about balance and cause and effect and problem solving without even realizing it. And this is something, if you think about like our little, little ones would love these, but our older kids, it will grow with them as well. For our little ones, I also love the soft play space. Now what's really unique about this is it gives your little ones a to explore and practice those early movement skills like crawling and tumbling, but they're safe in that dedicated space. And you can throw some of maybe the soft foam blocks in there too, lots of fun stuff. And they have so much imagination with that too. It's like they're in their own fort or they're creating, you know, that play. I love that. Well, that's what I was thinking too. I feel like when I was a kid, we would do this, but like with ottomans and living room, you'd like make your own. This looks way safer and better, Carly. Absolutely. I mean, I used to tell my girls, like, can we stop taking apart the couch? Right. So now. We have a solution there. The tunnel, I mean, so much nostalgia here for me. Like, who didn't love a pop-up tunnel as a kid? Great for babies, younger toddlers. This will encourage them to crawl. You have some confidence in risk-taking, movement, and spatial awareness as they're kind of exploring their surroundings. I have a puppy. I even put her through here the other day for a little agility, so that was fun. But pop-up tunnel is great. And, again, it's going to be our little ones just learning to crawl. And even as they can walk, they're going to love it. And then, yeah, you said it. Fort Builder, super, super cool here. Love this because it encourages that creativity. There's no set way to build the fort. The possibilities are endless. So they have that planning and even teamwork as kids are working together. This one is a three-time award winner this year. It was recognized by Mom's Choice, Toy Insider's Top Holiday Toys, and the National Parenting Product Awards. And for good reason, right? That open-ended play, creativity, a little engineering for our little ones perhaps. I love that. That's exactly what I was thinking. Little engineers right there and put like a little blanket on top. Make it a little cozy. You're reading a book or you're doing something. It's like their own space. Yeah. Okay. So parents also kind of combine some of these toys. Is that a sit and spin? Oh, my goodness. Yeah, the twist and twirl. Again, nostalgia here, I think, right? So that is one of my favorite things about this collection. You can mix and match to create all different play experiences based on your child's interests and as their abilities grow. So we have a balance beam. We can combine that with the stepping stones. And then as they're coming down the path, they make their way to the twist and twirl, which makes a really fun indoor obstacle course. It's going to challenge balance. Coordination and body awareness and guys, you know, the cold weather is coming like it or not. So if we can build this amazing play space in our own homes, we're not having to head out into the cold, but we're getting all those wiggles out, which is really important. Get our energy out. Yeah, absolutely. This is like American Ninja Warrior, like baby edition. Line it all up, right? Make your own, choose your own adventure. I want to ask you about one more thing before we let you go here, Carly. I've seen, is that a tub for a little one that you've got to the, oh gosh, my left, your right. Yes, thank you. Yeah, so this is the soft play space. So it's a nice fabric foam. sort of pit, right? So imagine like you could fill it with balls or you could fill it with their favorite toys. They can climb in and out and it's really safe because it's nice and soft and squishy and that's the really nice thing about this is we can combine all the different pieces. Another tip for parents, you don't have to have every toy out at once. I really recommend, particularly in the winter, rotate those play materials so you're keeping things interesting and lots of these pieces are really easy to store when playtime is over. So make it easy for parents I like the add-on. home ball pit idea. Certainly a little bit cleaner than the ones you get in, you know, public places. And that's a good tip too, kind of letting it play each one at a time. So you don't, number one, overwhelm them and they don't get bored. A thousand percent. All right. So where can we find these, Carly? And sometimes you give us a little deal or a discount code. Hello? Yes. Yeah. The Fisher Price Your Way Collection is available on Amazon. You'll find all of these pieces. And of course we want to shop early before the holidays because you know, this stuff will We'll sell out fast, so get it while you can. Yes. Making good gifts. All right, Carly, thank you so much. And we will be right back with more of Milwaukee. I know we're saying we keep chopping now, right? Now may be the time to do it. Gotta start over. Yeah, I think. Welcome back everybody. We were just talking about, you know, getting more toys and obviously that's so wonderful, but you get to a point where you're like, I have too much stuff. Yeah, yeah. So this is a 30 day declutter challenge. Now this is for people who have a lot of stuff. So with the temperatures dropping, we're going to be inside a lot more than the last few months. So if you're starting to look around at all the clutter in your house, it's so easy to ignore over the summer. We have a decluttering method that you might want to try. So this is called It's called the 30 Day Minimalism Challenge, and it was created by a duo. known as, aptly, the minimalist. So the idea is simple. The first day, you get rid of one item. Second day, two. Day three, get rid of three, and so on. By day 30, I guess you're getting rid of 30 items. At the end of the challenge, you will have cleared out, though, 465 items from your home. I don't like it. Now, if I did this, I wouldn't, my place would be empty. It would look like I got robbed. Right. But I, I... Yeah. I guess my thought is, like, what are we doing with this stuff? No. Are we donating it? Well, that's what I feel. I feel like when you're decluttering, you need to go maybe room by room. Yeah. And then you get the bigger picture, I feel like, of what you're letting go of. You better gauge that. Because sometimes by just getting rid of one thing, it's like, do you have something else that you need? Do you, you know, you have something to replace it? I don't know. Yeah. And the only thing I have 24 of that I don't need are crayons. You know, when you hit 25, how are you getting rid of 25 things in one day? And then that's a rash decision, just getting rid of one as opposed to cleaning the entire, you know, kids area and then deciding what needs to go. I'm the type of person that likes to go around my house and find the money. You know, so if I find something... That's what I do. Thank you. Take that, thank you. No, but honestly, I'll go around the house, like, can I sell this on Facebook Marketplace? Can I sell this somewhere else? Can I hold this for a rummage sale? And then... Oh, for sure. You know, like... Yes. Fair. There's so much... There are opportunities in selling different things. Well, that's good organizing, decluttering. That's what I do. I have different bins of what's donating, what's maybe for, like... A keepsake or a collection or maybe this could go to somebody else, you know? the thing though is I'm kind of against like getting rid of something because it's like, oh, I don't need it right now and then rebuying. I think that that is not good. I think that's why people hang on to stuff because they might need it. Like instruction manuals. I save instruction manuals. They go in my junk drawer and I just feel like if I need the instruction manual for the carbon monoxide detectors I just bought I know where to find them. I guess everything's online now. But I just feel like if it's not... It's more security that way. I've minimized clutter by just doing the opposite of that. Instead of cleaning and holding on to those, I just know that they're on chat. You just get rid of everything? Just 100%. Which is not shocking because we know about your text messages. That's what I'm saying. Oh, my God. Where are we at now? Where are we at now? How many? And on that note, we go... Oh, my God. I'm going to distance. Look at all this. How does it make you feel? 15. Do you feel... I got to go. I got to leave. You're going to leave? You're going to leave? You're going to leave? You're going to leave? You're going to leave?