MARVIA VALDEZ: A NEIGHBORHOOD’S BEST FRIEND

Neighborhood organization is fundraising for a park shelter in her honor

BY THE BELLEVUE-HALE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

As the sun sets on the homes in the 1200 block of Birch Street in Denver, eyes might come to rest on a white brick house with green shutters. Until the winter of 2021, one would likely have seen a white-haired woman with a big smile inside this home, sitting at her computer by the window of her o ce. She likely would have provided a friendly wave while a small black-and-tan dog named Toby kept watch through the front screen door.

e woman’s name was Marvia Valdez. She was one of the more familiar faces in Denver’s BellevueHale neighborhood.

Her impact was signi cant and ongoing. Times changed through the years, but Valdez was steadfast in her views of community. She always spoke of how community — the cooperation, friendship and caring of neighbors for other neighbors — is what keeps a neighborhood healthy and alive.

“Marvia was the rst person I met when I moved into the neighborhood 12 years ago,” said Tom Arrison, neighbor and member of the Bellevue-Hale Neighborhood Association’s Lindsley Park Shelter Committee. “She was altogether friendly. Working around her over the years, I noticed how people were drawn to her and sought to be involved in her projects. She was just one of those people who made involvement easy and a joy. But she was strong-willed and things got done.”

Many knew Valdez from visits with her in her yard, or her and Toby’s daily visits to Lindsley Park, where Valdez would tend to annual and perennial gardens. Others encountered her during the holiday season when she worked with neighborhood volunteers to decorate the small evergreen trees with ornaments in the picnic area of Lindsley Park.

Her strong sense of community helped hold the fabric of the neighborhood together.

Valdez joined the Bellevue-Hale Neighborhood Association’s Board of

Trustees in 1979, just two years after the neighborhood organization was formed and registered with the city and county of Denver. Her tenure includes serving as president for a number of years.

Just some of the community gatherings Valdez was involved with include an outdoor family movie night with live music, food and ice cream trucks; an annual summer BHNA Picnic in Lindsley Park; an annual Holiday Party hosted in the neighborhood’s historic homes; and neighborhood yard sales to raise funds for BHNA.

“Her main focus was creating and building community through activities that brought people together,” said Laurie Bogue, member and past president of the BHNA Board. “Marvia’s enthusiasm, perseverance and quiet leadership motivated many others to work on behalf of the neighborhood.” roughout her life, Valdez remained vigilant with her vision of community and in uenced development decisions in the neighborhood. She made a di erence.

Valdez died in January 2021 from a battle with cancer.

To honor her e orts of building community, the BHNA, in partnership with Denver Parks and Recreation, is making strides on ful lling

P.O. Box 200084, Denver, CO, 80220.

Valdez’s dream to construct a shelter in Lindsley Park, which will serve as a community space where neighbors and families can gather for various activities.

Fundraising and planning for the construction of the shelter has already begun. Improvements to the

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BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Martin Howard spent years of his life making waves in New York City as a trained executive pastry chef, thrilling locals with his chocolate-made marvels. In 1996, Howard and several of his culinary colleagues participated in a chocolate-themed fundraising bene t where all of the chefs presented a themed tasting table. Howard’s was themed around “ e Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” an Australian drag-themed road comedy from 1994. Howard came in drag as Chocolatina, Queen of the Dessert. She served a dessert in the shape of a high-heeled shoe and did a musical baking demo.

On that day, Chocolatina Q. Dessert was born.

Later after moving to Denver, Chocolatina became known as e Pie Queen. “ e Pie Queen started during COVID when we had no work. I started at home, then Epicurean Catering — where I work — let me use their kitchen,” said Chocolatina. “During COVID, people were starved for comfort food and live entertainment. I decided to bring it to their front yard.” e event’s festivities take place from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Historic South Pearl Street in Denver’s Platt Park neighborhood. It will include food trucks, live music and other entertainment, and much more. e event will also raise funds for e Center on Colfax, a nonpro t that serves the LGBTQ+ community throughout the Rocky Mountain region. e Center on Colfax gives a voice to Colorado’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and

On June 17, join Chocolatina as e Pie Queen of Denver at Pride on South Pearl, a fun- lled local pride event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.

“I will be there to provide sweet treats and musical merriment,” e Pie Queen said.

Come meet The Pie Queen of Denver on June 17

and dance performance and will have her tasty pies for sale.

“I am so excited that the Pie Queen will be singing and dancing during our Pride on South Pearl event,” said Fidler. “I read about her during the pandemic and hired her to entertain friends and bring her delicious pies to two special occasions. Aside from the fact that we bonded over New York roots, the Pie Queen is charming, funny and an extremely talented performer and baker.” picnic area, landscaping and gardens are also planned.

Valdez was born in Craig, Colorado. She moved to Denver in the mid-1960s, and the Bellevue-Hale

Celebrate Pride In Denver

There are numerous Pride events taking place in the Mile High City throughout June — everything from 21+ shows to family-friendly live entertainment. Here are some suggestions.

Family Fun Day: PRIDE

June 11, noon to 2 p.m. Girl Scout DreamLab, 63 N. Quebec St. tinyurl.com/GSCOFamilyFunDayPRIDE

Queeridescence: A Prismatic Masqueerade

June 15, 7-10 p.m. (doors open at 6:30). GrantHumphreys Mansion, 770 Pennsylvania St. tinyurl.com/Queeridescence

We Are Here. The Drag Guide to Pride

June 15 and 16, 8 p.m. show (doors at 7 p.m.) both nights. The Perplexiplex at Meow Wolf Denver, 1338 First St. meowwolf.com/events/ denver

Melodies of Pride

June 22, 7 p.m. City Park, 2001 Steele St. mhfb.org

Pride Shabbat at JCC

Denver

June 23, 6-8:30 p.m. (free Kabbalat Shabbat 6-7 p.m., Shabbat Dinner 7–8:30 p.m.). StaenbergLoup Jewish Community Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. tinyurl.com/PrideJCCDenver

Denver PrideFest 2023

June 24-25, various events will take place all day at multiple locations. denverpride.org

Rainbow Family Party

June 25, 3-5 p.m. (storytime starts at 3:30 p.m.). Children’s Library at Central Library, 10 W. 14th Ave. Parkway tinyurl.com/RainbowFamilyParty queer community, and plays a pivotal role in statewide initiatives to reduce harassment and discrimination.

To find a list of the entertainment and attractions for Pride on South Pearl, visit southpearlstreet.com/pride-on-south-pearl.

Pride on South Pearl is a family friendly event with activities for people of all ages. Attendees can participate in an educational Pride ag scavenger hunt, prepare for e Center on Colfax’s neighborhood in the mid1970s.

As a professional, Valdez wore many other hats. She retired from a teaching career of more than 20 years with Denver Public Schools in 1990, and served as a part-time teacher at Emily Gri th Technical College until 2014. Valdez also em-

Denver PrideFest 2023 — which takes place June 24-25 — with tie dying at the Second Star to the Right bookstore, and dance the night away at the DJ Dance Party with DJ Cyn.

“We encourage the community to come dressed for a good time and demonstrate their support for braced being a landlord and an adventurer of road trips with her daughter, Sherri.

Valdez’s most memorable trait was her amazing ability to connect with students and their families, neighbors and her tenants. She would go to the former Annie’s Café on Fridays to visit with friends and neighbors. And Valdez

Pride,” said Jody Fidler, event organizer and a South Pearl Street merchant.

Pride-goers can also engage with two of Denver’s most notable drag artists, Alice Glamoure and e Pie Queen herself. Alice Glamoure will be leading Drag Queen Story Time and e Pie Queen will do a song particularly enjoyed meeting newcomers to the neighborhood and keeping in touch with many of the neighbors who moved away.

“It was an honor to know and work with Marvia for over 30 years. Her compelling enthusiasm for the betterment of our neighborhood remains an inspiration,” said e freedom of creative gender expression through drag has been under re in recent months with some states restricting drag performances in public spaces. Denver, however, has generally been a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Gov. Jared Polis recently signed HB19-1129, which prohibits mental health care providers from engaging in conversion therapy with a patient under 18 years of age; and HB19-1039, Jude’s Law, which allows for easier change of gender markers on identi cation documents. ough Colorado has several laws supporting the LGBTQ+ community, some Coloradans are concerned about HB23-1135, a 2023 State House Bill that increases the penalty for indecent exposure in view of a minor under 15 years of age from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony. Opponents of the bill have some concern that it could lead to restricting drag shows in Colorado. e bill is currently waiting for Polis’ signature.

“Everyone should be able to live their life freely and fully without being threatened,” e Pie Queen said. “Visibility is the best way for people to get over their fears. If someone told me in the ‘80s that we’d be at this point now, I would have laughed. We’ve gone backwards, but here in Denver, it seems to be embraced, thank goodness.”

Ray Allen, a long-time friend, neighbor and BHNA board member. “Marvia’s passion was to know and help others, and to contribute to our neighborhood. e Lindsley Park Shelter, Marvia’s vision, will keep her memory alive and be a community space to foster friendships among our neighbors.”

Mile High Happenings is a monthly column featuring community events in Denver, highlighting events in the central and central-south neighborhoods covered by the Washington Park Profile and Life on Capitol Hill newspapers.

Event submissions from community members and local organizations are welcome. Submissions should include brief details about the

June and July

Denver Municipal Band: free concerts in the park e Denver Municipal Band is putting on many free concerts in the park throughout Denver this summer. ese are the June and July concerts:

Time: Varies.

Location: Multiple.

Cost: Free.

June 17: Platt Park, 5-6:30 p.m. (DMB Brass Quintet and neighborhood celebration)

July 4: Wash Park Boathouse, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (DMB Brass Quintet & Piano Concert and neighborhood picnic); Washington Park, 7-8:15 p.m. (DMB Concert Band traditional patriotic concert)

July 7: Cheesman Park, 7-8:15 p.m. (DMB Concert Band)

July 8: Southmoor Park, 7:30-8:45 p.m. (DMB Concert Band)

July 9: Levitt Pavilion at Ruby Hill Park, time is TBD (DMB Concert Band)

July 16: Washington Park, 6-8:45 p.m. (Colorado Honor Band and DMB Concert Band)

July 22: Harvey Park, 7:30-8:45 p.m. (DMB Concert Band with neighborhood festival and reworks)

More information/reservations: denvermunicipalband.org

Photo courtesy of the Denver Municipal Band.

Sundays June 4-Aug. 6

City Park Jazz

Time: 6-8 p.m.

Location: Pavilion in City Park, 2001 Steele St., Denver.

Cost: Free.

City Park Jazz is a concert series now in its 37th season. ey are free, family-friendly concerts that feature local musicians performing jazz, blues and salsa. Food trucks will also be available for food purchases. e events are put on by City Park Jazz, a volunteerrun, Denver-based nonpro t.

More information/reservations: cityparkjazz.org e 2023 City Park Jazz T-shirt design. Sales bene t City Park event and a photo or event logo. Deadline is the 20th of each month for the event to be listed the following month. Submissions can be emailed to Christy Steadman at csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

For more Mile High Happenings, visit lifeoncaphill.com or washparkprofile.com.

May 3-Aug. 27

Molly Brown House Museum: The World isChanging

Time: Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Last entry is at 4 p.m.

Location: Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St., Denver.

Cost: Guided tours are $16-$20; Explore On Your Own are $12-$16. Members and children 5 and younger are free. Colorado residents receive $2 o all ticket purchases.

e “ e World is Changing” exhibit at the Molly Brown House Museum explores the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, which the Browns attended. e exhibit includes unique original artifacts from the fair. Margaret at the World’s Fair Guided Tours take place at 1 p.m.

June 9 and 10

Denver Chamber Music Festival

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Denver, 2344 E. Iliff Ave.

Cost: $30 general admission, $50 for VIP seating and reception. Student dis-

May 18-Aug. 5

MSU Denver’s Center for Visual Art: I Do/We Do/You Do

Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Open until 8 p.m. on First Fridays.

Location: MSU Denver’s Center for Visual Art, 965 Santa Fe Drive, Denver.

Cost: Free.

Jazz. Shirts will be available for purchase at the Board of Directors booth at any of the concerts, while supply lasts. Image courtesy of the City Park Jazz website.

e “I Do/We Do/You Do” exhibition features the work of art educators and their re ections on the intersections of teaching and art making practices. Artists include invited national artists, a collaboration among an art educator research group, and a juried selection of Colorado art teachers.

More information/reservations:

Sundays and ursdays. Coinciding with the exhibit are Under the Lens events, which cost $22 for members and $25 for the general public. ese are: Food at the World’s Fair on June 27, Innovations at the World’s Fair on July 25, and Representation at the Fair on Aug. 22.

More information/reservations: mollybrown.org count tickets are available for $10. These two concerts are part of the Denver Chamber Music Festival’s third season. On June 9, the concert is “Schubertiade,” which will celebrate Franz Schubert. The concert on June 10 will be “Folk Inspirations,” which will feature Gabriel Fauré’s Piano Trio, Béla Bartók’s 1st String Quartet, and Antonín Dvo ák’s Piano Quintet.

Image courtesy of a press release.

More information/reservations: denverchambermusicfestival.org msudenver.edu/cva

KSMoCA, “On Moonless Nights: A collaboration between Chitra Ganesh and students from Martin Luther King Jr. School” 2017. Image courtesy of a press release.

June 11-Oct. 1

Justin Favela: Vistas in Color

Time: Varies.

Location: Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St.

Cost: Included with admission.

“Justin Favela: Vistas in Color” is a site-speci c work created for the Denver Botanic Gardens. e oor-to-ceiling desert landscape mural is made of piñata tissue paper and spans the entire ellipse-shaped Bon ls-Stanton Gallery. Inspiration for the mural comes from images of desert landscapes across the U.S. and Mexico, including some from the artist’s own road trips. Favela is a Las Vegasbased Latinx and rst-generation American artist, and has had work exhibited internationally and across the U.S. More information/reservations: botanicgardens.org

Image: Justin Favela, Valley of Oaxaca, after José María Velasco, 2018. Photo courtesy of the Berman Museum of Art, via press release from the Denver Botanic Gardens.

June 13

June 17-18

City Park Alliance Golf Tournament

Time: 6:15 a.m. registration open, 8 a.m. shotgun start.

Location: City Park Golf Course, 3181 E. 23rd Ave., Denver.

Cost: Begins at $175 for a single registration to $700 for a foursome registration. Sponsorships also available.

is is the third annual year for the City Park Alliance’s Golf Tournament. e City Park Alliance is a nonpro t dedicated to preserving and improving the park. Proceeds from the golf tournament bene t projects in the park, such as upgrades to the Mile-High Loop path, and supporting the First Tee youth program. e event also includes a post-tournament lunch and awards presentation.

More information/reservations: cityparkalliance.golfreg.com

Photo courtesy of Craig Howson.

June 15-19

Historic Denver’s Capitol Crossroads: A Citywide Scavenger Hunt

Time: Varies.

Location: Multiple venues in Denver’ Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Cost: $18 for adults, $12 for children. Member discounts apply. is scavenger hunt provides an opportunity for participants to follow a series of clues to discover and learn more about Denver’s key historic places in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. e scavenger hunt can be done on foot (or bike or roll) as an individual or in a group, but teams of four-to-six people are recommended. e scavenger hunt happens annually, but each year, Historic Denver crafts a new route and new clues.

More information/reservations: historicdenver.org

Image courtesy of Historic Denver via press release.

Juneteenth Music Festival

Time: All day.

Location: Welton Street corridor in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood.

Cost: Free general admission.

Denver’s annual Juneteenth Music Festival is a community event in honor of Juneteenth, the day when the last of the nation’s enslaved people learned of their freedom. e two-day event in Denver o ers a parade, vendor’s market, food and beverages, and lots of live music.

More information/reservations: juneteenthmusicfestival.com Logo courtesy of the Juneteenth Music Festival’s website.

June 22

Summer Solstice Gala 2023: From Action To Nourishment e evening will also have a silent auction, guest speakers and live music. All proceeds bene t Denver Food Rescue and support its mission to produce health equity in Denver neighborhoods. More information/reservations: denverfoodrescue.org Courtesy logo.

Time: 6-9 p.m.

Location: Space Gallery Annex, 95 S. Cherokee St., Denver.

Cost: Starts at $75. is fundraiser event o ers Colorado craft cocktails and tastings by the nest chefs and farmers in the metro area.