Laurel Street Palooza returns to Baton Rouge as a jazz brunch this month

The annual downtown street party Laurel Street Palooza returns this month, but in a much different way. Celebrating 15 years of the event, the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge is moving the party—slated for Jan. 17—to the City Club for a jazz brunch honoring past years’ kings and queens.

“We’ve had 15 years of the Palooza and 15 sets of royalty,” says Arts Council President and CEO Renee Chatelain. “We thought it might be a good opportunity to celebrate them and make it all about that—not a huge street party but a jazz brunch instead. These people so selflessly gave of their time and money and didn’t ask for anything else. They really are the pillars of this city.”

Chatelain took the helm at the Arts Council in summer 2015 and has since been evaluating its programs, meeting with local leaders and arts organizations to discuss a new direction for the council. That reboot also means temporarily scaling back one of its big events … at least for this year.

“We didn’t want to halfway do it this year,” Chatelain says. “We want to use this time to plan for its return in 2017. It’s going to be huge when it comes back but still very much in the flavor of a street party.”

Speaking of flavors, though this year’s event is paired down, it isn’t skimping on tasty food. The City Club menu for the jazz brunch, which starts at noon Jan. 17, includes:

• Chicken and sausage paella
• Oven-roasted smoked brisket of beef
• Fried catfish fingers with cocktail sauce
• Grilled vegetables
• Chicken and mushroom crepes
• Beignets and coffee

There will be an open bar and fried gumbo bites served as passed hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and the David Hinson Quintet featuring Judy Davis will provide entertainment. Tickets can be purchased here or by calling 344-8558.