Intelligent Must-See TV

Beyond the glam galas: A Profile of the real Phoebe Tudor

"I wanted to get behind the facade a little bit, get behind the party picture," says Profile host Greg Scheinman of this week's sit-down with Phoebe Tudor (10:30 tonight and 11 p.m. Friday night on Channel 8, Houston PBS).

"You see the same faces at these events and I wonder are we emphasizing the wrong things with photos and fashion instead of the work and the cause," Scheinman continues. "There are some people that are doing really good things, and often the work and the effort gets overlooked by the social and the supposed glamour of it. And its easy to knock that aspect rather than praise the work that's behind it."

If Scheinman was out to rehabilitate the image of the Houston socialite from Real Housewives ignominy, he could not have found a better exemplar than Phoebe Tudor. Raised in Louisiana, she has a Bachelor's degree in art history from the University of Virginia and a Masters in Historic Preservation from Columbia. Prior to her move to Houston, she was the architectural historian for the New Orleans Historic District Landmark Commission. She's married to Bobby Tudor, who was her high-school sweetheart.

"The premise of this Profile was really about her involvement with the Julia Ideson preservation project," Scheinman sats. Tudor was recruited to chair the Julia Ideson Library Preservation Partners by outgoing mayor Bill White and tasked with raising $32 million to renovate the historic downtown Houston library.

"She's done a lot of work as private consultant in historic preservation, and wasn't just lending her name and putting on a gala," Scheinman says. "The really interesting aspect is that obvious socialite element to Phoebe and attending all the galas and being a part of that, but what came across was it wasn't just about her attending — she is actively involved in these charities."

Scheinman and Tudor started at her house. They then made their way to the Julia Ideson Library, where they toured some of the newly completed research rooms and the work that's still underway. The new 21,500-square-foot storage wing is state-of-the-art yet fits within the original architectural design by Ralph Adams Cram. "It's obviously a landmark, but it's going to take a lot of time to make it more attractive for the public and to get it to be utilized as a multi-purpose destination," Scheinman says.

"Phoebe is a very positive presence, impeccably well put-together and well-spoken and humble and down to earth at the same time, and you gravitate to what she's doing because it seems right."

CultureMap is the official online home of Profile — and you can watch exclusive clips of all the episodes in the series (season one and the current season two) on our special Profile page.

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always be prepared

Texas tax-free weekend lets shoppers stock up on emergency supplies

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Emergency supplies like first aid kits that cost less than $75 are eligible for a tax break this weekend.

The best time for Texas residents to stock up on supplies to prepare for natural disasters is coming up this weekend. The annual statewide Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday runs from April 25-27, when Texans will be able to purchase critical emergency supplies — plus household necessities like batteries and fire extinguishers — tax-fee.

Shoppers can purchase certain emergency supplies tax-free starting at 12:01 am on Saturday, April 25, and the "holiday" runs until midnight on Monday, April 27. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased during the weekend, and purchases can be made in store, online, through the mail, and via custom order.

Saving on emergency supplies
Emergency preparation supplies must be purchased under certain price brackets to qualify for the tax exemption. For example, portable generators must have a sales price less than $3,000 to qualify for a tax break. Ladders and hurricane shutters that cost less than $300 also qualify.

Delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges are included in the sales price, according to the Comptroller. So if a shopper buys a $299 rescue ladder and is charged a $10 delivery fee, the total sales price for the purchase is $309, and tax would need to be paid for that sales price.

Additional items that qualify for a tax break as long as they cost less than $75 include:

Axes
Batteries – single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguishers
First aid kits
Fuel containers
Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
Hatchets
Ice products – including reusable and artificial ice
Light sources – including those that are battery operated or portable self-powered sources; candles, flashlights, and lanterns
Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
Non-electric can openers
Non-electric coolers and ice chests for food storage
Radios – including portable self-powered radios, battery operated radios, two-way radios, and weather band radios
Smoke detectors
Tarps and other plastic sheeting

The full list of qualifying items is available on The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' website.

As a reminder, over-the-counter items like antibacterial hand sanitizer, soap, and spray and wipes are always exempt from sales tax if they are labeled with a "Drug Facts" panel in compliance with Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Non-qualifying items that will still be taxed
Medical masks, face masks, and gloves of any kind do not qualify for a tax exemption. Other taxable items including toilet paper, cleaning supplies (such as disinfectants and bleach wipes), vehicle or boat batteries, chainsaws, plywood, extension ladders, and stepladders. Camping equipment and supplies, including stoves and tents, are also not eligible for a tax break.

Additionally, any repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies do not qualify for tax exemptions, and neither do any services that are performed on or related to those supplies.

What to do if a qualifying item is taxed during the holiday
If customers buy a tax-exempt item between April 25-27 and are still taxed, they may request a refund from the seller on the tax paid for the item. The seller can grant the refund to the buyer, or provide them with Form 00-985, Assignment to Right to Refund, which would allow the customer to file a claim for their refund through the Comptroller's website.

tax free weekend emergency supplies texas