Queen B Coffee Company Sponsors Ridgefield Pride Art Contest For LGBTQ+ History Month

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Ridgefield’s Queen B Coffee Company is turning art and espresso into advocacy this October. The café at 417 Main Street—known for its welcoming atmosphere and lattes named with love—is sponsoring the Ridgefield Pride Art Contest in recognition of LGBTQ+ History Month.

Co-owner Heather Bellizzi, who runs Queen B alongside her sister Jennifer, said the idea grew out of a conversation with Alisa Trachtenberg, founder of Ridgefield Pride. The two wanted to create something meaningful beyond June’s Pride Month festivities.

“Alisa wanted to make the connection between LGBTQ+ awareness and suicide prevention,” Bellizzi explained. “There’s an unfortunate overlap between the two, and she felt it was important to show people that no matter who they are, they’re supported and loved.”

The result is a vibrant community art show now taking shape on Queen B’s walls. Local artists—from age 6 to 60—were invited to pick up a blank canvas and answer one simple question: "What does pride mean to you?"

“We’ve had paintings, collages, and all kinds of creative expressions,” Bellizzi said. “It’s been really amazing to see how people interpret the idea of pride in their own way.”

Each piece will be displayed throughout October to spark conversation and connection. Many of the works will also be available for purchase, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting Ridgefield Pride and its local advocacy efforts.

Bellizzi said she’ll keep accepting new submissions for as long as she can make room. “If someone walks in and says, ‘I wish I had a chance to do one,’ I probably have a few extra canvases in the back,” she said with a laugh.

A Café With Heart

Queen B Coffee Company itself was founded in memory of the Bellizzi sisters’ late mother, a career teacher whose students affectionately called her “Mrs. B.” Her warmth and kindness earned her the nickname “Queen B”—a title her daughters proudly carried forward.

“She had this amazing way of making everyone feel special,” Heather said. “This café was something we planned to do with her before she passed, and we named it for her because she really embodied the spirit of connection and kindness that we try to bring to the shop.”

That legacy extends to Queen B’s everyday community work, from featuring local artists year-round to offering permanent 10 percent discounts to teachers, first responders, and police officers.

Art, Awareness, and Acceptance

Bellizzi says Ridgefield’s strong sense of inclusion makes it an ideal setting for the project.

“Ridgefield is a really supportive community,” she said. “You’ve got people like Alisa who are constantly reminding others that there’s a place where you belong.”

She added that even if the show touches one person who’s struggling, it will have been worth it. “If one person sees the art and feels less alone, then we’ve done something good.”

The Ridgefield Pride Art Contest is open to community members of all ages, and registration details are available here.

Throughout October, stop by Queen B Coffee Company for a cup of something warm—and a reminder that in Ridgefield, coffee and art are both brewed with pride.