Author Archives: sara

Saturday & Sunday live in the studio

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Fun in the studio continued all weekend long as Central Texans showed their support for Austin City Limits and Masterpiece Mystery.

Saturday night KLRU aired the Pearl Jam episode in the regular time slot with special guests ACL producer Terry Lickona and photographer Scott Newton. We heard great behind-the-scenes stories of their many years with the show. Phone volunteers for the evening were veteran ACL volunteers. No one needed to tell them where the restrooms were located, they know their way around the studio as well as we do!

Show your support for Austin City Limits and receive an autographed copy of “Austin City Limits: 35 Years in Photographs.”

Sunday in the studio revolved around “A Study in Pink,” the Masterpiece Mystery episode voted for by KLRU viewers. Members of the Sherlock Holmes Society of Austin (aka Waterloo Station) and the Sisters in Crime Heart of Texas Chapter graciously answered phones and helped us with Sherlock trivia. Artist and Sherlock Society member Trish McCracken brought a beautiful print reproduction of Sherlock Holmes’ residence at 221B Baker Street, London which was included in the 2009 book “The Sherlock Holmes Companion: An Elementary Guide.” One lucky viewer who knew their Sherlock trivia was able to take home the print after answer a trivia question correctly. Thank you Trish! Austin mystery writer Janice Hamrick shared information with viewers on her upcoming book and why supporting KLRU is important to the Austin community.

It’s not too late for you to donate to KLRU for Masterpiece Mystery, thanks for your support.

A big thank you goes to local writer and actor Owen Egerton who had us laughing all night long. To see more of Owen, catch his Master Pancake Christmas show happening the next couple of weekends at different Alamo Drafthouses.

KLRU Community Screening & Discussion "Fixing the Future"

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Thanks to everyone who attended the KLRU Community Screening with David Brancaccio and Ellen Spiro on their documentary Fixing The Future.

In Fixing the Future: NOW on PBS, David Brancaccio visits communities across America,  including Austin, using innovative approaches to create jobs and build prosperity. After the economic meltdown of 2008, the nation stands in urgent need of economic growth that’s not based on risky financial bets placed by Wall Street. Brancaccio talks to working Americans who are re-engineering the future, built on American values of commonwealth, shared prosperity, fairness, wellness, sustainability and creativity. Here are ways to get involved.

Special thanks to our sponsors Austin Community College, Live Oak Brewing and Texas Coffee Traders.

Wednesday live in the studio

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Wednesday night, Austin viewers were lucky to be serenaded by the beautiful voices of the Conspirare Children’s Choir. The Children’s Choir was created as an extension of Austin-based Conspirare, a professional ensemble of adult choral singers featured in the evening’s broadcast of “A Company of Voices: Conspirare in Concert,” which is a production of KLRU and has been shared with a nationwide audience. Please take time to support this program and local productions at KLRU. Conspirare will be performing their Christmas concert this Monday at the Long Center. They put on an amazing show and their Christmas concert is an annual tradition for many Austinites.

Everyone in the studio was very impressed by the discipline and talent of the singers who gave a very moving performance. Posted below are some pictures from the evening and clips from the Children’s Choir singing two holiday songs.

“Nativity Carol”

“Wassail Song”

Tuesday live in the studio

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Last night KLRU broadcast live from studio 6B during the PBS documentary Botany of Desire. We choose this program because Tuesdays are our traditional science night and also because Michael Pollan will be in Austin next week. As an extra special thank you gift we are offering tickets to his lecture at Bass Concert Hall as well as his book and a DVD or Blu-Ray of the program. We only have a limited number so secure your spot soon! One lucky person will have their tickets upgraded to a VIP reception with Michael Pollan himself.

Another thing that made last night special was the support of the garden community. Central Texas Gardener has many fabulous fans and some of them came to help us answer phones. Many of them have their own blogs or community programs so check their sites listed below if you’re looking for inspiration.

Tonight we will be live in the studio during “A Company of Voices: Conspirare in Concert.” Our special guests will be the Conspirare Youth Choir who will be performing throughout the evening. The fun begins at 7p!

thanks to these folks who helped us answer phones:
Denise Delaney
Grow Green Coordinator, City of Austin

Elaine Dill
Master Gardener

Ellie Hanlon
Mostly Weeds

Caroline Homer
Shovel Ready Garden

Glee Ingram
Growing Designs Landscape designer

Eleanor Pratt
Garden of E

Roxane Smith
Master Gardener

Monday live in the studio

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KLRU’s December fundraising drive is off to a great start! We appreciate everyone who has supported KLRU so far, especially during last night’s Antiques Roadshow. As a thank you we offered tickets to the January Appraisal Fair and it was wonderful to hear the phones ringing off the hooks as folks from all around Austin snapped up tickets. It’s not to late to secure your spot, donate to support Antiques Roadshow before the end of our fundraising period because this is an event you won’t want to miss.

During our live breaks KLRU staff and professors from St. Edwards helped answer the calls. They looked extra snazzy in new phone headsets the make it easier to interact with callers. We discovered one downside of the headsets though, it’s hard for the director to tell who is one the phone!

Tonight on KLRU we are pledging live in the studio for Newshour at 6pm, followed by Michael Pollan’s Botony of Desire at 7pm. We’ll have some special thank you gifts, including tickets to see Michael Pollan in person. We’ll also be joined by some fabulous Central Texas Gardener fans and garden bloggers. Don’t forget, everyone who donates now until December 12th is eligible to win an iPad.

Biscuit Brothers Homestyle Holiday Hoedown

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Old MacDonald has decked out the farm’s town square for the holidays! Come enjoy holiday snacks, special craft sessions, and activities while musicians fill the air with holiday cheer at the first ever Biscuit Brothers Homestyle Holiday Hoedown. This handcrafted holiday event is a fundraiser for the Biscuit Brothers Children’s Television Project.

More information at BiscuitBrothers.com

Tickets for Opening Night available now

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KLRU invites Austin to a world-class celebration for the grand opening of the Moody Theater’s Austin City Limits Stage. Opening Night celebrates Austin City Limits’ move to a new studio located in downtown Austin. The new Austin City Limits studio, developed by Stratus Properties as part of the Block 21 development project, will enable more fans to watch future live tapings and provide an enhanced experience while maintaining the intimacy, character and integrity that have been the hallmark of Austin City Limits for more than three decades.

Individuals can enjoy this once in a lifetime evening by purchasing tickets to KLRU’s Opening Night at klru.org/openingnight

Reading Heroes Day at Hernandez Elementary

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October 29th was Reading Heroes Day at Maria Hernandez Elementary in San Marcos. KLRU has donated over 500 books to the school and was honored to be included in the day’s activities. Along with a special appearance by Clifford the Big Red Dog, reading heroes from the community including staff from the Texas House of Representatives, police, EMS and fire department staff, members of the Texas State University baseball team, and personnel of the San Marcos Public Library read aloud to classes throughout the day. Adding to the fun were all the great literary and PBS themed costumes.

Click here to view the photographs taken during KLRU’s visit.

Halloween on KLRU-Q

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Turn off the front porch lights and pretend you’re not home, you won’t want any trick-or-treaters interrupting your TV watching this Halloween.

KLRU-Q (channel 18.3) has a special lineup of spooky programs beginning at 6:30 with Haunted Texas. After you explore the ghost sightings in the old Freedman’s Colony outside of Blanco, Texas get ready for a marathon of Secrets of the Dead. Part detective story, part true-life drama, Secrets of the Dead explores some of the most iconic moments in history to debunk myths and shed new light on past events.

6:30pm – Haunted Texas
7:00pm – Secrets of the Dead “Headless Romans”
8:00pm – Secrets of the Dead “Aztec Massacre”
9:00pm – Secrets of the Dead “Sinking Atlantis”
10:00pm – Secrets of the Dead “Airmen and the Headhunters”