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Watch and Win! Celebrate Julia Child tonight at 7pm

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We have been looking forward to this night for a very long time! In celebration of Julia Child’s 100th birthday, some of the best chefs and foodies in Austin will be joining us LIVE in studio during a special presentation of three classic episodes of The French Chef featuring Julia’s take on omelettes, boullaibase, and roasted chicken, tonight at 7pm on KLRU.

If you call in during the evening with your support for KLRU, you might be talking with one of these wonderful people on the phone: Rene Ortiz (La Condesa, Sway), Laura Sawicki (La Condesa, Sway), Philip Speer (Uchi/Uchiko), Aaron & Stacy Franklin (Franklin BBQ), Karla Loeb (Slow Food Austin), Larry McGuire (Lamberts, Perla’s, Elizabeth Street Cafe, Fresa’s, Jeffrey’s), John Bates (Noble Pig), Sonya Cote (Hillside Farmacy, Homegrown Revival) and Casey Wilcox (Justine’s), and Patty Cater (Central Market).

This is the perfect opportunity to support the great history of cooking shows on public television and celebrate the incredible culinary scene here in Austin. We love when we can connect the awesome programming on KLRU with our local community and who better to showcase the KLRU vision of inspiration and creativity than Julia herself.

Every gift made tonight (or made online here) will automatically be entered to win one of several gift certificates to the places above and others: Olive & June, Parkside, Olivia, The Back Space, Foreign & Domestic, Lenoir, Chez Nous, Trace, Dai Due, Second Bar + Kitchen, and Barley Swine. A gift of just $25 could mean a dinner at a critically-acclaimed Austin restaurant – and you’ll be supporting Austin’s only locally owned and operated television station at the same time – what’s not to love about that?!

KLRU needs your support during this August pledge drive – if you love food, you won’t want to miss out on tonight’s special tribute to Julia Child beginning tonight at 7pm. Thank you for celebrating with us.

How do *you* keep creativity alive in Austin?

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There are countless ways to support Austin’s creative sector. Attending opening night at a theater, playing in a band, taking an improv class. Creativity is what makes Austin unique…so what do *you* do that keeps creativity alive?

Tell us how you keep creativity alive in Austin. Make a quick video and upload it to YouTube. Tag it “CivicSummitCreativity” and your comments may be used in our upcoming broadcast.

What if you helped KLRU raise $240,000 this August?

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This August we’re asking the question, What If…? What if children never had the opportunity to laugh and learn with Mister Rogers, Elmo, and Curious George? What if NOVA and Nature weren’t available to inspire future generations of scientists and explorers? What if KLRU, Austin’s only locally owned and operated television station, didn’t exist?

Without KLRU you wouldn’t be able to find quality, commercial-free programming that inspires, educates, and informs everyone. And it is viewers like you who make it possible for us to provide incredible programming to every child, every parent, every teacher, every student,everyone for free. Your gift of support ensures that KLRU will continue to inspire you… and everyone around you for generations to come.

This August, KLRU needs to raise $240,000 to be able to continue providing the programming you watch every day online and on-air. What if everyone who watched KLRU or attended a KLRU event or helped KLRU celebrate its 50th birthday gave a gift of support today? We would love to see that happen! Give a gift in support of what you love about KLRU right now and help us reach our important goal this month. We promise to turn your dollars into ideas, exploration, adventure, drama, and music for everyone in ways that only public television can.

Support KLRU during August and choose from some great thank you gifts for your donation! See some of the special selections below!

Tie-Dye never goes out of style – and neither does KLRU!

Make a $50 gift in support of KLRU’s 50th Anniversary and we’ll send you this stylish tie-dye t-shirt to show your KLRU pride all over the city. Our Sr. VP of Community Engagement, Maury Sullivan, looks great in tie-dye – and we’d love to see you at one of our upcoming events – like the next Civic Summit on the arts in Austin or our Women and Girls Lead event celebrating Austin women who are changing the world – wearing your KLRU tee!

Sundays are for drama on KLRU

We know you rely on great British drama on Sunday nights, so we are excited to present a great Downton Abbey: Behind-the-Scenes program on August 12 at 8pm and a really entertaining retrospective on the history of Costume Dramas on August 19 at 8pm. Make a gift to support all the great drama on KLRU and you can get your own copies of Downton Abbey, Upstairs Downstairs, and more!

Happy 100th Birthday, Julia!

This month we’re celebrating Julia Child’s birthday and on Wednesday, August 15 at 7pm we’ll be joined live in studio by some of the best chefs in Austin with a special presentation ofBon Appetit: Julia Child Memories. Show your support for the mulititude of cooking shows on KLRU and receive a copy ofThe French Chef cookbook or entire series on DVD as a thank you gift!

KLRU Summer Learning Activities now in 5 H-E-B stores!

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KLRU has set up displays in five Austin-area H-E-B stores where families can pick up free materials to participate in PBS Kids Summer Learning Activities:

  • Rundberg and Lamar
  • IH-35 and William Cannon
  • E. 7th St. and Pleasant Valley
  • E. Riverside
  • Ed Bluestein Blvd. and Manor Rd.

The PBS Kids Summer Learning Initative connects watching of PBS Kids programs with reading and other activities. Kids who participate can return to the HEB after August 17 to pick up a certificate that they can show to their new teachers!

July 2012: P.O.V. "Up Heartbreak Hill"

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Each month, KLRU chooses a program for your family to enjoy together. This month’s Family Choice program, UP HEARTBREAK HILL, explores the lives of Native American teens.

P.O.V. “Up Heartbreak Hill”
Sunday, July 29, 5-6 p.m.

Thomas and Tamara are track stars at their rural New Mexico high school. Like many teenagers, they are torn between the lure of brighter futures elsewhere and the ties that bind them to home. For these teens, however, home is an impoverished town on the Navajo reservation, and leaving means separating from family, tradition and the land that has been theirs for generations. Erica Scharf’s “Up Heartbreak Hill” is a look at a new generation of Americans struggling to be both Native and modern.

ARTHUR “Baby Kate Adventure Week”

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Arthur and D.W. look at baby Kate sleeping in her cribThis summer, PBS KIDS’ summer learning initiative helps kids continue building key literacy skills throughout summer vacation with themed weeks.

Starting June 18 at 3 p.m. on KLRU

ARTHUR
Baby Kate Adventure Week

Fifteen – Parts 1 & 2 – June 18
How much can Arthur and his friends do in 15 minutes? Arthur tries to race home to find his report and get back to school before class starts. George gets his shot to win big bucks for his school on the radio show “15 minutes of Fame.” Kate and Pal try to defeat the “Red Claw” and their mission of getting kids to play with cats by eliminating all imaginary friends. Can they all accomplish these missions impossible before the clock counts all the way down? Only time will tell!

Around the World in 11-Minutes/Muffy and the Big Bad Blog – June 19
Pal, Baby Kate, Amigo, and Mei Lin enthusiastically accept Nemo’s dare to travel around the world and make it back in 11 minutes. After all, there’s a prized pork chop and a lot of pride on the line! Adventuring by plane, hot-air balloon and motor scooters, the gang encounters many obstacles along the way – mostly because of Nemo’s meddling! – but giddily experience the joys of global expedition.

Muffy discovers that web blogging is a great way to keep her readers up to date with her every move…whether they’re interested or not! But then she goes too far and publicizes a disagreement with Francine. Can Muffy learn that some things really are better left private?

Paradise Lost/The Pride of Lakewood – June 20
Baby Kate is growing up! She’s started saying her first words. But strangely enough, the more words she learns, the less she seems to understand their dog, Pal. The two head off to the Children’s Zoo in search of the Dolly Llama for an explanation, and to see if they can reverse the process. Along the way, they learn that growing up is inevitable and maybe it isn’t so bad.

To boost school pride, Arthur and his classmates form the Lakewood Pride Committee, which immediately and fervently adds members, distributes buttons and creates special chants. But Brain and Sue Ellen, feeling pressured, decide they don’t want to join – and are accused of not loving their school. Can they prove that they’re proud of Lakewood Elementary even if they’re not part of this new group?

The Blackout/Mei Lin Takes a Stand – June 21
It’s the hottest day in Elwood City, when a total blackout leaves its residents without any electricity. Will Arthur and DW survive without AC and TV? Luckily, the Molina family steps in to teach the Reads a lesson on how to keep cool and have fun as a community even under the toughest of weather conditions!

Binky’s baby sister Mei-Lin isn’t keen on learning to walk and would rather stick to crawling. But then Baby Kate and Pal’s flea friends, brothers Sale and Pepe, return to Elwood City and share a tale of a little princess in the land of “Hanzan-Niis” who learns to walk in order to save her beloved court jester. Will Mei Lin be inspired to take a stand or continue to stumble?

Baby Kate and the Imaginary Mystery/Strangers on a Train – June 22
Nadine, D.W.’s imaginary friend is missing! Baby Kate, Pal, Amigo, and Nemo are all on the case and won’t give up until this mystery is solved – even if some fur gets ruffled along the way! Could the Tibbles be hiding Nadine? Or is the solution to the mystery closer to home?

Sue Ellen can’t wait to travel on an old-fashioned train with her mom. It will be just like those black and white movies! But once onboard, Sue Ellen discovers that the train is not as spectacular as she had hoped – until she finds a mysterious diary on board. Could it belong to the ghost of the “Crown City Star”??

SUPER WHY! Around the World Adventure

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Map of Africa and North & South AmericaThis summer, SUPER WHY! headlines PBS KIDS’ summer learning initiative with a special on-air event — the SUPER WHY! Around the World Adventure — and a week of themed programming starting July 2 at 9 a.m.

SUPER WHY! Around the World Adventure
Friday, June 15 at 9 & 11 a.m.
Saturday, June 16 at 9 a.m.
Two new episodes  –  take the Super Readers around the world in back-to-back adventures.

Super Why and the Around the World Adventure – With the help of their teacher, Wyatt and his friends have contacted a girl from another school over the computer and are wondering where she lives. The Super Readers take a trip around the world with a wacky explorer named Wobblebottom, who is on the hunt for his friend Sophie. Will they be able to help Wobblebottom find his friend?

Super Why and Naila and the Magic Map – Pig and his friends are playing when they find what looks like an Egyptian treasure map, but they can’t make out the symbols! To search for some answers, the Super Readers soar into the book “Naila and the Magic Map” and explore the world of ancient Egypt. Will they be able to help Naila unravel the mysterious code that will unlock where the treasure lies?

June 2012: Mariachi High

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Each month, KLRU chooses a program for your family to enjoy together. This month’s Family Choice program, MARIACHI HIGH, will give you a glimpse into the lives of a teen mariachi ensemble.

MARIACHI HIGH
Friday, June 29, 9-10 p.m.
Sunday, July 1, 3-4 p.m.

Mariachi High presents a year in the life of the champion mariachi ensemble at Zapata High School on the Rio Grande in South Texas. As they compete and perform with astonishing musical virtuosity, these teens, and the music they make, will inspire, surprise, and bring you to your feet.

Show your support for Being Elmo (and more puppets!) tonight on KLRU

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Tonight is MUST WATCH TV on KLRU – An encore presentation of Independent Lens: Being Elmo, the incredibly moving story of muppeteer Kevin Clash, Elmo’s creator. Displaying his creativity and talent at a young age, Kevin dreamed of working with Jim Henson and by following his dream with passion and perseverance, ultimately found a home on Sesame Street. Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg and featuring interviews with Frank Oz, Rosie O’Donnell, Cheryl Henson, Joan Ganz Cooney and others Being Elmo offers a behind-the-scenes look at Sesame Street and the Jim Henson Workshop.

If you’re a fan of Sesame Street, Jim Henson, puppets, Independent Lens, documentaries or all of the above, we want to hear from you – We have great thank you gifts for your donation this evening, including an Elmo Puppet of your very own!

And because it’s a puppet-kind-of-night, we’ve invited Sara Farr, founder and producing artistic director of the Puppet Improv Project to join us LIVE in the studio. We’ll hear all about puppetry, puppet-building, and performance in Austin and if you call in with a donation, you might even talk to a puppet volunteer on the phone!

Sara Farr | Producing Artistic Director Patrick Knisley | Production Manager Topping Haggerty | Artistic Director

Join us tonight starting at 7pm for Being Elmo and support great documentaries on KLRU tonight.