KLRN Previews | 11/24/2009

Check out the latest KLRN Previews E-Newsletter featuring information about this Saturday's broadcast of the Texas Music Extravaganza. You'll also read a bit about December 7's launch of the PBS NewsHour.

To get the newsletter via email every two weeks, register at: http://www.klrn.org/signup/

Wine, Friends, and Good Times: The 2010 KLRN Wine Season Is Officially In Full Swing

Glasses were raised and the excitement and energy was radiating at the St. Anthony Hotel last night as the 2010 San Antonio Wine Festival Committee met for the first time. The crowd, filled with seasoned committee members as well as people that are new to the group, got a "taste" of what it is like to sit on the wine committee, and I must say, our committees have good times, they really do. This year's chairs, Dacia and Lanham Napier, are so filled with enthusiasm that it rubs off on whoever surrounds them. It is going to be a fun wine year, folks. It is never too early to get involved, so whether you are a restaurant who wants to participate in the festivities, a sponsor who wants to support a good cause or you are a patron who loves wine and public television, we look forward to seeing you all at the events of the 2010 year. And to our committee...Cheers!

(If you have questions or want to participate in this years events, please contact John Costello 210.270.9000 or jcostello@klrn.org)

Don't Believe Me; I've Got a Dog in This Hunt

But San Antonio's Express-News Entertainment Writer Jeanne Jakle doesn't, and she sure did like what we call "The River Walk Doc." Its real title is Paseo Del Arte: Expanding the San Antonio River Walk.

Jakle's review is glowing, and to be honest, so are we. We put a lot of heart and soul (and photography and editing) into this doc and it's very satisfying to have it recognized. It airs 9PM Tuesday night the 10th of November--tomorrow at this writing--and I hope you get a chance to see it.

Pictured above is Donald Lipski's F.I.S.H.. Why in the world did he pick that particular variety of fish to build? The answer is in the River Walk doc...tune in to find out!

They Absolutely Didn't Have to Do This

But they did. They took an overgrown, trash heap wasteland section of the San Antonio River and gave it a radical makeover. They dredged it out, widened the river channel, built elaborate stonework walls and walkways, and secured artists to conceive and install wildly creative, bizarre and even subtle works of art. And now San Antonio has an outdoor linear art gallery that's like nowhere else in the world. The picture above is Donald Lipski's F.I.S.H. under the I-35 bridge, with San Antonio Museum of Art in the background.

They--the city, the county, the San Antonio River Authority, and the San Antonio River Foundation--had an uphill battle to fight. They had to convince a skeptical public that an area of town that, to put it kindly, has seen better times, could become a showplace for the Alamo City. And now, with a lot of corporate support, those governmental entities have done precisely that.

Almost a year ago the River Foundation contacted KLRN to document the creation of what's come to be called the Museum Reach portion of the new River Walk. We've interviewed dozens of people, including all the artists, former mayors, all the movers-n-shakers. And we've spent time along the river shooting beautiful high-def video of all the artists' wondrous creations. We've cruised in River Barges, night and day, to capture the experience of this fabulous new stretch. And we've put all that into a lively, half-hour documentary that we've named Paseo Del Arte: Expanding the San Antonio River Walk. If you'd like a preview, go here. It airs Tuesay the 10th at 9PM on KLRN, and we sure hope you'll watch.

If you watch, you'll see how much neater a town we can be, how much more interesting a society we become...when we do that which we don't have to do, but which will make us all a little happeer.

To medicate or not to medicate...that is the question.

I have to be honest, with all of the talk about the H1N1 vaccination and it's safety (or not), the discussion has happened in my house... to vaccinate or not to vaccinate? There is speculation. There are questions. And frankly, my family is in a quandry about it, trying to figure out the best route to take. I guess I won't have to make any drastic decisions until the shot actually becomes available to me and mine. Until then, I wait (and am quite relieved not to have to make the ultimate decision just yet).

In the meantime, I am left to think about children and medicine. Quite a combo. I remember penicillin being the cure all for me as a child...for anything and everything, but that was it. If penicillin didn't cure it, then I was to wait it out or sleep it off.

Tonight, Frontline is rebroadcasting the episode titled "The Medicated Child". Some programs bear repeating and I believe because of the current discussions about our little ones and which medicines are good for them, this one is more than appropriate. Tune in tonight or watch the full episode online. I know I will.

Katrina

p.s. By the way, there is a plethora of information at the website for this episode. FAQs, discussion forums, and a parents guide, for any of you interested in learning more.

KLRN Video Blog | October 20

Clifford the Big Red Dog’s Colossal Tour

Clifford the Big Red Dog’s Colossal Tour was on-hand to entertain and delight families throughout San Antonio on October 16th thru the 18th. Hundreds of kids took pictures with Clifford the Big Red Dog at various Burger King Locations. KLRN, Clifford, and Burger King joined forces with the San Antonio Police Department to provide fingerprinting for children to establish their identity. Also in attendance was a balloon maker who made every animal balloon you could think of. It was such a pleasure seeing children from all over San Antonio excited and amazed at meeting Clifford.

Bring the kids, Clifford is coming to town!

Attention Kiddos!
Get your picture taken for free at your local Burger King! This weekend, (October 16-18) Clifford the Big Red Dog will be visiting his friends at area Burger King Restaurants.
Stop by and see Clifford for FREE at the following times and locations:
Friday, October 16
4:00 - 5:00pm 1327 S. Main St. (Boerne)
5:30 - 6:30pm 5218 DeZavala Rd.
7:00 - 8:00pm 3400 Fredricksburg Rd.
Saturday, October 17
9:00 – 10:00am 3009 Blanco Rd.
10:30 - 11:30am 5013 Walzem Rd.
12:00 - 1:00pm 4618 Rittiman Rd.
1:30 - 2:30pm 16711 Nacogdoches Rd.
3:00 - 4:00pm 5007 NW Loop 410
4:30 - 5:30pm 11006 FM 471
6:00 - 7:00pm 5562 Tezel Rd.
Sunday, October 18
1:00 - 2:00pm 8296 Marbach Rd.
2:30 - 3:30pm 4520 W. Commerce
4:00 - 5:00pm 4402 S. New Braunfels Ave.
5:30 – 6:30pm 211 SW Military Dr.

For more information, give us a call 210.270.9000.

KLRN News You Can Use

Today we published our October issue of the KLRN Education newsletter featuring Comal ISD and the wonderful work that district is doing with technology. You will read about how Comal has come from the bare bones of technology infrastructure to the fully-immersed classrooms of today. If you are looking for information to integrate KLRN content into your teaching and learning experiences, click here to read more and become a monthly subscriber. For more information on KLRN School Services, contact me at mmccormick@klrn.org.

KLRN Video Blog | October 1

A Conversations Special

We're heading out now to UTSA's main campus to shoot a Conversations Special tonight at the University Center theater. First off at 5 they'll be screening The Wall documentary, and afterwards we'll record a Conversations program about the documentary.

The DOC is all about a wall that's being built along the Mexican border in an effort to cut down and/or eliminate illegal immigration. Whether you're a supporter of the Wall or don't like it at all, the documentary's a fascinating look at what's happening there.

Former WOAI Trouble Shooter Jeff Coyle is hosting the Conversations record, and The Wall director Ricardo Martinez is the subject. A live audience will be asking questions and this will all be turned into a Conversations Thursday night the 8th of October. If you can't join us for the live taping, please join us for the program playback.

This one speaks for itself!

Read, Read, Read!

Celebrating Under The Stars

On Saturday, September 19, KLRN and the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park held a night “under the stars” at Mission San José. The outdoor event featured booths, music, and a special preview screening of the Ken Burns upcoming documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. Families were greeted by the music of the Mariachi Monterrey band and were treated to a special performance by the Ballet Folklorico de San Antonio. With picnic baskets and blankets, families enjoyed the sneak peek of the film in one of San Antonio’s most beautiful historic settings. Kids received live trees to plant, and adults were given re-useable bags. Special thanks to Park Rangers Al Remley and Susan Snow for their help in making this event possible. Be sure to watch the film when it premieres on KLRN this Sunday night at 8 pm! Click here to learn more about the documentary and all of the local efforts surrounding the launch.

Contributed by Lisa McGrath, VP of Educational Services at KLRN

KLRN Kids & the Biscuit Brothers Jamboree

On Saturday, September 12, The Biscuit Brothers participated in the KLRN Kids Club Members-Only Event, Biscuit Brothers Jamboree, at Enchanted Springs Ranch in Boerne, TX. We had over 200 KLRN members come to this fabulous event.

The Biscuit Brothers’ four-piece band did a total of three on-stage performances for about a half-hour each. During these performances, The Biscuit Brothers involved the audience in all aspects of their performances, encouraging children, their parents and other attendees to dance, sing, and make suggestions for animals and animal sounds to be used in the songs.

Additionally, The Biscuit Brothers educated children in between the stage shows in the “instrument petting zoo.” There they were able to show the kids how each of the different instruments is played and the sound that each makes.

Kids and their parents enjoyed wagon rides through the ranch during the event. The rides were entertaining, as well as educational, since the ranch has a collection of unusual animals including Longhorn cattle, Emus, llamas, Red Stag and Chinese Deer, bison, reindeer, rams, and donkeys.

Burger King, a sponsor, donated the use of their moon bounce.

KLRN members had activity tables and were given a cowboy hat, bandana, and goodie bag.

All in all, many parents and child caregivers stated to staff that the event was fun and exciting for the children, and it was something their kids would remember for a long time to come.

Contributed by Lisa Marie Gibson. To learn more about KLRN Kids, visit klrn.org/kids.

Raising Readers: Mission Possible 2009

Raising Readers families took on a night of baseball with the San Antonio Missions Baseball Team! Under clear skies, Super WHY threw the first strike of the night! The children and their families on the Fiesta Party Deck cheered for Super Why, Alpha Pig, and Martha as the fans in the crowd clapped, hooted, and hollered. Throughout the evening, children posed with the characters wearing their spirit shirts and clutching their books. All clad in Super Why, Alpha Pig, Princess Presto, and Wonder Red masks, the children played on the deck wearing their new, autographed gloves as they threw the ball around with their new friends. Our fantastic reader, Naomi, chased the Puffy Taco during the 7th Inning Stretch. With a gentle nudge, the Taco collapsed before reaching home plate! We had an amazing evening cheering on the Missions to a victory. Books, bats, and balls… Mission Possible: Raising Readers ACCOMPLISHED!