Brian Kramp’s Milwaukee: FOX6 Host on Food, Fests and Events

If you have ever watched FOX6 WakeUp and felt your weekend plans come together, there is a good chance Brian Kramp had something to do with it.

For more than a decade, Brian has gone live from restaurants, bakeries, festivals, and neighborhood gems across Milwaukee for FOX6 WakeUp and Real Milwaukee. The job looks fun on TV because it is fun, but it also comes with a front row seat to what makes this city tick. Not the headline version of Milwaukee, but the real one. The one built on family recipes, early morning prep, and owners who still greet regulars by name.

What makes Brian’s perspective different is that he does not just tell stories about businesses. He shows them at work. He walks into kitchens before sunrise. He meets the people behind the counter and the volunteers behind the scenes. He sees which traditions keep coming back year after year, from Fat Tuesday paczki to Friday fish fries, and he watches how new ideas take root.

In this Q+A, Brian shares what he has learned from thousands of on location segments and conversations. He talks about what makes a story stand out, especially when a place has more passion than marketing budget. He also makes the case that Milwaukee’s “mainstays” are not just predictable calendar moments, they are community glue. Then we zoom in on the North Shore, where longtime favorites sit right next to newer concepts that keep the area feeling both familiar and fresh.

If you are someone who loves finding the next great spot, or you just want a clearer sense of what makes Milwaukee feel like Milwaukee, this interview is for you. It is a reminder that the best stories are often already happening. They just need someone to show up, ask good questions, and turn the camera toward the people doing the work.

You've been featuring businesses on Fox 6 Wakeup and Real Milwaukee for over a decade now. Big picture: What have you learned about Milwaukee from this unique perspective?

I’ve learned that Milwaukee is a wonderfully unique and special city with passionate people, amazing food, and diverse entertainment. The dedication of those who own and run restaurants and events is inspiring, and I love that we’re able to capture that live in their space on Fox 6.

It’s not every day that owners get the opportunity to put their business or brand in front of thousands of people. Whether it’s a small brick-and-mortar, a new business in a warehouse, or an outdoor, family-friendly community event, we go on location to introduce them to our viewers and online followers. Being able to highlight the positive things happening in our community is an absolute joy.

A place like Milwaukee is so rooted in traditions, and you can set your seasonal calendar from fish fries to lakefront festivals. What Milwaukee mainstays do you MOST look forward to covering each year?

Milwaukee’s traditions are incredible, and how they bring the community together is always the part of the story I most look forward to highlighting. From Paczki on Fat Tuesday to Friday fish fries during Lent, local businesses have helped us celebrate for generations. Sharing stories of three or four generations of family members learning, perfecting, and carrying on traditions started by their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents is truly awe-inspiring. These traditions mean so much to so many people. It’s meaningful to me to not only feature them but to also give viewers a behind the scenes look at their operation. Revisiting these businesses and festivals year after year and seeing familiar faces while watching their stories continue to grow is quite fulfilling and never gets old.

When you're scouting locations for segments, what makes a place stand out? What unique angles do you look for?

What usually stands out first is uniqueness. It could be the people, the place, the event, or all of it together. Anyone can visit a breakfast spot serving eggs and bacon with an owner you never see but I enjoy walking into a café where the owner is present, serving signature dishes, and personally checking in with customers. That hands-on passion immediately gets my attention, but there must also be something that sparks curiosity and makes us want to know and see more. I also look at potential. Some of the best stories come from places without big marketing budgets or PR teams, so it takes some digging to understand who they are and why they started. And for a repeat guest it’s about how they’ve evolved, and what makes this experience together different.

Can’t ask you to pick just one, but are there particular destinations that would be on your “Milwaukee starter pack” for visitors, especially in the North Shore?

If I had to put together a North Shore “starter pack,” it would include the following…

• Calderone Club in Fox Point for pizza.

• Jack Pandl’s in Whitefish Bay for a classic fish fry.

• Benji’s in Shorewood for their Hopple Popple breakfast, Reuben, and Matzo Ball soup.

• North Shore Boulangerie for baked goods.

• Café Corazón in Brown Deer for Mexican cuisine.

• Bavarian Bierhaus in Glendale for German food and beer.

• Kawa in Whitefish Bay for sushi and Japanese.

• The Brick in Glendale covers pub fare very well

• Crave in Shorewood has tasty burgers

• And of course, Kopp’s in Glendale for Frozen Custard and burgers

That said, the North Shore offers an incredible range of options to fit different tastes and needs and I'm always open to visiting new restaurants and bakeries as they open or during special anniversaries and holidays.

Kramp at Kopp’s

North Shore specific: How has your experience reporting in places like Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, and Glendale shaped your view of what makes Milwaukee’s North Shore distinct?

The North Shore stands out because it blends longtime, family-owned restaurants that have been around for decades with newer concepts like Forage and Fitzy’s in Whitefish Bay, Matilda Bakehouse in Fox Point, Foxhole Craft Beer Shop & Kitchen in Shorewood, and Mallard’s Southern Kitchen at Bayshore. While there isn’t an overwhelming number of restaurants, there’s a little bit of everything and that balance is what makes the North Shore feel both familiar and fresh.

You've built strong connections with local businesses, community leaders, and everyday residents. How do you build trust and familiarity when you step into a neighborhood with a camera?

Trust is initially built through consistency and professionalism, but it's how you are on and off camera with your guests that can set you apart from the field. You don’t last 30 years in broadcast by burning bridges or turning people off. It also helps to have the support of a strong team. There’s always someone behind the camera working to make us look good, along with a group back at the station producing, managing, and supporting the mission of putting our guests in the best possible light.

What keeps you energized and on the lookout for the next story to share? Is there a particular feeling or moment that reminds you why you love doing this work?

What keeps me energized are the people we feature and the reactions I see after we’re done on air. The smile from a local business owner or community leader or genuine gratitude they show simply for being recognized, never gets old. Sometimes a simple “thank you” is the best reward there is.

I also love seeing what happens next with their story and journey. When I run into or feature someone a few years later and learn they’ve extended their hours, grown their business by opening a second location, or been nominated for a major award, it reinforces why this work matters. Often, it’s not about finding the next story - it’s about continuing the one that’s already there. People evolve, businesses grow, events change and being able to visually tell that story both on air and online is what fuels me.

I feel incredibly grateful to be able to do this for FOX 6 and for the community. I'm also blessed to have the respect from the community, and I love shining a light on the special people, places, and events that make Milwaukee great!

What are your favorite hobbies and local pastimes when you’re not exploring the community for work?

My favorite place to be is with my family. After spending weekday mornings meeting new people and sharing their stories, I’m happiest shifting my focus back home. Whether it’s building a puzzle or a LEGO set, cooking, coaching basketball, watching a movie, playing video games with my son, or unwinding up north, that time with family is how I prefer to relax.