Ace Studios Sponsors the First Trick or Treat at the Sticks!

Ace Studios Sponsors the First Trick or Treat at the Sticks!

Building Community, One Spooky Smile at a Time! 🧡

Ace Studios is proud to sponsor the first-ever Trick or Treat at the Sticks, hosted by our incredible client Mari Chuy’s Midtown! 🎃

Join us Thursday, October 30th, from 5–7:30 PM for a night filled with costumes, candy, and community spirit right in the heart of Midtown Reno. Our team will be on-site volunteering, handing out prizes, and helping create unforgettable memories for families and kids. 👻

Here’s what’s brewing that night:
🖌️ Face Painting, Arts & Crafts, and Fortune Telling
🏃 The Great Mummy & Pumpkin Race – 6:00 PM
🎭 Costume Contest – 7:00 PM
🗺️ Scavenger Hunt – 5–7:30 PM
🍴 Plus, Mari Chuy’s Deadly Menu is available all day!

🕷️ Scavenger Hunt Tip:
Grab a map and visit all five participating local businesses — NextHome Yourpickettfence Group, Inclined Burgers + Brews, Sugar Blvd, Crave Cookies Reno, and Sierra Belle — to collect your stamps and win a sweet prize at Mari Chuy’s. 🍬

This event is all about community, connection, and creativity — values that Ace Studios lives by every day. Together with local businesses, we’re proud to make Midtown a place where families can come together and celebrate safely and joyfully.

Let’s make this a Halloween tradition to remember — Midtown style! 🕸️

👉 Want to get involved or volunteer with us?
Reach out to our team at info@acestudios.com

From Hollywood Hair to Midtown Cocktails: Coffee Talks with Ace with Tyler Colton

From Hollywood Hair to Midtown Cocktails: Coffee Talks with Ace with Tyler Colton

Some stories are too good not to share — and this one is served with both style and spirit. Glam, grit, & good drinks — Tyler Colton tells all! 

In the latest episode of Coffee Talks with Ace, we sat down with Tyler to discuss his journey of being a celebrity hairstylist who left behind the fast-paced glam of Hollywood to opening one of the hottest bars in Reno, Nevada, The Emerson, a community-driven bar in the heart of Midtown.

Reinvention in Reno

For years, Tyler styled the stars, making his mark in the beauty and fashion industries. But when the bright lights of Hollywood no longer sparked joy, he made a bold move: trading red carpets for Reno lights. At The Emerson, Tyler has created more than just a cocktail bar — it’s a gathering place where inclusivity, creativity, and connection shine as brightly as the neon outside its doors.

Why It Matters

At Ace Studios, our mission with Coffee Talks with Ace is to highlight voices and businesses that make our community stronger — from women-led and POC-owned companies to LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs and veteran-owned businesses. Tyler’s journey is a perfect example of how passion and purpose can transform not only a career but also a community.

Watch the Full Episode

Tyler’s story is inspiring, funny, and full of those “wow” moments you won’t want to miss. Grab your coffee (or maybe a cocktail ) and join us for this conversation.

👉 The full episode is out now on our YouTube channel. Click on the photo to watch it now! 👇 Check it out, leave us a comment, and let us know what you think!

Tyler Colton: From Vogue Covers to Craft Cocktails

Tyler Colton: From Vogue Covers to Craft Cocktails

What do Sarah McLachlan, Demi Lovato, and a cat named Emerson have in common? 

Tyler Colton. 

This month on Coffee Talks with Ace, we sat down with the legendary celebrity hairstylist-turned-hospitality powerhouse. We got the tea (and maybe a cocktail or two) on his creative journey—from high fashion photoshoots to opening one of Midtown Reno’s most favorite mid-century modern cocktail lounges with a twist — The Emerson.

In his interview, we talk about his 30+ years of experience perfecting his craft as a celebrity hairstylist to stars like Demi Lovato, Avril Lavigne, and Sarah McLachlan. (No big deal, right?) He’s been featured in Vogue, Elle, Rolling Stone, and probably your dream board from 2006. His resume is star-studded, but it’s his commitment to community that really steals the spotlight.

One of the many celebs that Tyler has worked with is Avril Lavigne.

As the owner of The Emerson (Also, in case you’re wondering — yes, the name Emerson comes from the philosopher and his cat. Iconic!), a Midtown staple since 2019, and the soon-to-open The Selden (literally just across the street), an LGBTQ+ bar designed as a safe, welcoming space for all. Tyler is shaking up more than cocktails; he’s building culture.

The Emerson isn’t just a bar. In three words (none of which are “cocktail” or “bar”): it’s mid-century, modern, fresh. It’s where curated playlists meet community drag brunches. It’s where raising a glass often means raising funds. The Emerson has raised over $45,000 and counting for local causes. It’s a place for everyone — especially if you’ve ever felt uncomfortable walking into a sports bar (same, Tyler. Same).

The Emerson Bar in Midtown Reno.

What’s something people always get wrong about running a bar? “That it’s always a party,” he says. And while it might not always be a party, it’s definitely always a vibe.

Whether you’re here for the fashion, the cocktails, the drag brunches, or the heart, this episode is one you don’t want to miss.

Tyler is at the location of his new upcoming bar, The Seldon.

Don’t miss our next episode of Coffee Talks with Ace, where Tyler Colton shares his bold leap from styling A-listers to serving up soul and spirits at The Emerson. It’s a story of reinvention, community, and the magic that happens when passion meets purpose.

Catch Tyler’s interview on our Instagram @acestudiosnv and YouTube (AceStudiosNV) so you don’t miss the drop.

This Month’s Main Character? Joanna.  (It’s also her birthday month!)

This Month’s Main Character? Joanna. (It’s also her birthday month!)

We checked the calendar and yep—it’s official: Joanna is having a full-blown press tour this May.
Two articles in one month? Honestly, she’s one well-placed sunglasses away from needing a publicist. 😎

But this one? This one’s for the birthday candles.

May 16 marks the day the universe gifted us Joanna Newbold, and to say we’re grateful is an understatement. She’s our VP of Client Services by day, pun-slinger, and powerhouse by night—she’s the kind of person who brings spreadsheets and soul to everything she touches.

Some fun facts about Joanna, because no birthday post is complete without oversharing:
🎂 She’s somehow both the calm in the chaos and the reason we’re all laughing mid-chaos.
✨ Favorite marketing quote? “Perception is reality.” (Which explains why her outfits always slay.)
💡 She has a superpower for turning client chaos into brand clarity—and makes it look easy.

So here’s to more client wins, big belly laughs, and emails that start with “Happy Monday” and end with “You’re doing amazing, sweetie.”

Happy Birthday, Joanna! (We love you more than caffeine and Canva combined!)

 

Christopher Thigpen
Ace Studios
May 2025

Rooted in Realness: How Joanna Newbold Brings Brands (and People) to Life

Rooted in Realness: How Joanna Newbold Brings Brands (and People) to Life

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you combine cheerleader energy, coffee-shop grit, and marketing intuition so sharp it could slice through a stale brand pitch—you get Joanna Newbold. Our new VP of Client Services brings a little sparkle, a lot of smarts, and an impressive ability to make everyone around her feel like the most important person in the room. Spoiler alert: it’s not just a superpower—it’s strategy.

Joanna’s story starts with a high school coach named Mr. Girard, a cheer squad, and a love for selling yearbook ads to local businesses. “I found it interesting learning about their businesses and creating ad strategies,” she recalls. That early spark became a flame, leading her to decades of experience in marketing, sales, and running an agency.

  Joanna’s cheer days. Can you guess which one is Joanna?

But let’s rewind for a second—this isn’t your typical marketing origin story. Joanna didn’t take the corporate ladder; she built her own. Starting from the ground up, she’s invested in a restaurant for her mom to attracting the hit show Man vs. Food to their restaurant, owning a coffee shop, and resurrecting a Depression-era tagline for a client—”You don’t need teeth to eat our meat” (with the help of her husband Drew… who is also a marketer!) —Joanna has always had a knack for finding the heart (and humor) in every story.

Check out the video below: “You Don’t Need Teeth To Eat Our Meat at Jim-Denny’s”

It’s that rare blend of insight, grit, and good old-fashioned hustle that makes her such a powerful force at Ace Studios. “I’m excited to focus purely on client needs and growth,” she says, with a kind of quiet confidence that makes you trust her immediately. “It’s about clarity, empathy, and following through. Making our clients’ jobs easier and helping them meet their goals.”

Joanna’s leadership style? Three words: Insightful. Adaptive. Empowering. She listens deeply, sees the full picture, and most importantly makes people feel seen. That applies whether she’s helping a client shape their brand strategy or wrangling five (yes, five!) grandchildren. Her kids call her the baby whisperer, and her dog Pete (a Shih-Poo who thinks he’s a Pit Bull) agrees.

Joanna with her cute shih-poo, Pete.

Fun fact: Joanna doesn’t drink coffee (we know, we were shocked too), but if Ace Studios were a coffee blend, she says she is still figuring out the perfect blend which is very on-brand for someone who believes the best work is always evolving which reflects her favorite marketing mantra: “Perception is reality.” To her, great marketing lives in how people feel, connect, and engage with your brand—and that truth drives everything she does.

When asked what her younger self needed to hear, Joanna didn’t hesitate: “Trust your gut. Invest more in your 401k. And take more vacations.” Wise words, especially from someone who’s spent her career helping others build businesses without losing her humanity along the way.

Whether she’s mapping a campaign, troubleshooting with grace under pressure, or bringing human-first storytelling to the forefront, Joanna isn’t just adding value—she’s raising the bar.

So if you’re a client wondering what it’s like to work with her? Expect heart. Expect strategy. And expect a woman who genuinely cares about getting it right—every time.

 

Christopher Thigpen
Ace Studios
May 2025