The Laurel Street Palooza is the best street party in town that celebrates the arts in Baton Rouge with lively bands and entertainment, a first-class silent auction, and great food and spirits.  The Arts Council is proud to announce that 2011 King Palooza is Lee Michael Berg and 2011 Queen Palooza is Paula Pennington de la Bretonne.  The Laurel Street Palooza will take place downtown at 427 Laurel Street at the Arts Council (in the Old Bogan Fire Station) and in the Chase Bank Building on Friday, January 14, 2011, from 5:30-9:30 p.m.  Come join us for great music, food and fun!

Laurel Street Palooza Chair, Claire Herthum Major, says "In our 11th year, to kick-off the second decade of the event, we've crafted a new name and message that is both serious in its point and a hoot in its delivery.  Look for some amazing things from our King and Queen Palooza-AKA-Arts Crusaders, Lee Michael Berg and Paula Pennington de la Bretonne as they fight against a city with no arts!  Laurel Street Palooza truly outdoes itself every year and this happens only from the colossal support we receive from sponsors, restaurants, retailers, artists, beverage companies, musicians and the many community devotees to the event. You will not want to miss Laurel Street Palooza on January 14, 2011." 

2011 King Palooza Lee Michael Berg:

From the outset of the company's creation in Baton Rouge in 1978, founder Lee Michael Berg determined that an integral part of the company's corporate mission was to provide outstanding philanthropic, artistic, and cultural services and financial support in the company's markets. As the President and CEO of Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, Lee Berg has spearheaded the company's commitment and personally set the example for others to follow.

A family owned and operated business, Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry is grounded on specific core values including a commitment to the communities in which family members and employees live and work.  Volunteer activism is a well-recognized part of the company's identity in each of its Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas marketplaces. 

In Baton Rouge, Lee Berg leads the commitment to the arts and cultural development by past service on the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge Board of Directors and as Campaign Chair for the Community Fund for the Arts.  Under his leadership and personal direction through the years, the company has been a Shaw Center for the Arts major contributor, a Manship Theatre major contributor; contributed to Baton Rouge Little Theater, Swine Palace Productions, Community Fund for the Arts, Foundation for Historical Louisiana, and the Governor's Mansion Foundation; a Symphony contributor for over 25 years; and an LASM major sponsor for over 25 years.  This long record reflects contributing thousands of dollars to annual funds and special fundraising, as well as giving fantastic auction and raffle items.

Lee's philanthropic leadership encourages the management team and all company associates to be community activists. Management team members have served on the boards of educational institutions, art galleries, symphonies, historical buildings, medical institutions, environmental organizations, children-focused endeavors, and business organizations with charitable missions.

In addition to serving on the Board of the Arts Council, Lee has served on numerous other community boards and advisory committees including the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, the Capital Area United Way, the Baton Rouge Symphony Association, and the Junior League of Baton Rouge. Lee's many award recognitions include receiving the Baton Rouge Volunteer Activist Award in 1995 and being named the Corporate Philanthropist of 2005 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Baton Rouge Chapter.

Lee's retailing and merchandising background began at 16 when he worked in Dallas, Texas, for his grandfather's 150-store clothing chain.  After graduating from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, he began his career in the Zale Corporation, progressing to Senior Vice President of Merchandising for Zale's Guild Division of more than 1,500 stores, the youngest person to hold that position in its history.  At the age of 28, he left that position to pursue his dream of owning a jewelry store unsurpassed in merchandise quality and customer service.  After searching the Southeast for an ideal location, he and his wife, Brenda, selected Baton Rouge as the place to realize that dream.

Lee's belief in giving back to the community has been a Core Value of Lee Michaels since the first store opened in The Mall at Cortana in 1978. Lee's wife Brenda and their sons and wives are community activists as well.  Brenda has served on the Board of Directors of the LSU Museum and is a past President of the Symphony League. Lee and Brenda most enjoy the time they spend with their three sons and four grandchildren.

2011 Queen Palooza Paula Pennington de la Bretonne:

Paula Pennington de la Bretonne is one of three trustees of the Irene and C.B. Pennington Foundation and a full-time community activist and volunteer.  Paula's leadership in the philanthropic community is a direct influence of the generosity of her grandparents who started the foundation in 1982, to improve the quality of life of individuals in southern Louisiana. 

Paula has taken the foundation from initially providing small grants to few organizations to one of the largest and most strategic grantmakers in Louisiana. Her dedication to the expansion of arts and culture in the community is unparalleled. Her numerous avenues of support include the development of the Pennington Great Performers in Concert series, through support of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. Paula has also been instrumental in bringing notable talents to Baton Rouge such as Broadway legend Debbie Allen and one of the world's top trumpeters, Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, through programs of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.

Paula's passion for tennis has also motivated her to gather community support through tennis exhibitions with top professional players for various causes. Over the years, she has created Duel Under the Oaks to benefit hurricane and disaster relief in the community, and most recently brought Smash Hits, a pro-celebrity tennis event benefiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation and local community HIV and AIDS programs. Paula's passion also extends into the dance community where she has spent two years with the Big Buddy Program bringing professional dancers to the Dancing with the Stars Baton Rouge event.

In addition to her work with the foundation, Paula has served on numerous boards of nonprofits and has been an integral part of growing organizations like the Louisiana Art and Science Museum, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Capital Area United Way and the YMCA.   Her most committed volunteerism has been as chairperson of the Medical Foundation of the Pennington Biomedical Center, her family's most treasured philanthropy.

In 2006, Paula was recognized as a Louisiana Heroine by Louisiana Association of Nonprofits and was awarded the Brotherhood/Sisterhood award, by 100 Black Men, for her commitment to community service. In 2009, Paula received the Volunteer Activist award by the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation.

Paula began her career as a labor and delivery nurse and worked at Woman's Hospital where she taught Lamaze and prenatal classes for expecting mothers. She is an alumnus of St. Joseph's Academy and received a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Though Paula's commitment to the community is unparalleled, her most treasured time has been spent raising her six children, most of whom have also pursued careers in the helping profession.  Paula's first priority has always been her family, a value instilled in her by her mother Peggy Pennington Cole and father the late C.B. Pennington Jr. Paula is married to Dr. Jack de la Bretonne and resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Between the two of them, they delight in eight children and seven grandchildren. 

The Arts Council is delighted to recognize these exemplary community leaders as our 2011 King and Queen Palooza.

Derek Gordon, Arts Council CEO, added, "The Laurel Street Palooza is a great way to bring the entire community together in support of the arts and culture in Baton Rouge. Food, fun and fantastic music and art make for a memorable evening and support a great cause."  Don't miss your chance to be part of Laurel Street merriment.

Tickets for this all-inclusive evening of food and entertainment are $40.00 per person in advance and are available at the door for $45.00 per person.  You may order in advance by calling the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge at 344-8558.