Black Owned Business Week: Anya Production Studios

A long long time ago in a galaxy far away, two creative juggernauts (yup, I said juggernauts) combined their forces for the power of good, much like a Power Ranger, and decided to take the world by storm!

...Actually it wasn't that long ago and it was right here in CT, but the taking the world by storm part is quickly coming into fruition. Chances are you've seen a picture on Facebook, Twitter or even some blog about what black people do in Hartford with the elegant "TimeFrozen" watermark in the corner. Look at the model, now back to me, now back to the model, now back to me...sadly, your makeup is probably not as fierce as hers. But it would be if you were using the services of Painted by Brettnee.

On October 14th, TimeFrozen Photography and Painted By Bretnee opened Anya Production Studios, bringing a gorgeous photography and makeup studio right to Hartford. And believe me when I tell you, these two can do ANYTHING. Whether it's getting your makeup and pictures on point for your 30th birthday party, taking the headache out of selecting a photographer AND makeup artist for your wedding, or even shooting a friggin music video*, seriously...ANYTHING.

Behind the lens is Keith Claytor, always armed with a camera, a bright smile, and the most insane artistic eye that I've ever seen. This guy could make your morning eye crust look beautiful. His wife, Chinenye, has her own creative eye with a soft-spoken but firm voice. Watching the two of them together is surely where the term "well-oiled machine" came from, as they seamlessly come together to make every shot perfect. Holding the brush is Brettnee Nelson; beautiful, bubbly and brilliant, your face is morphed into her canvas as you sit in her chair. She's not limited to enhancing your features with some lip gloss and eyeshadow, but can also turn a person into a walking work of art.

If you've read all this and you're still thinking of choosing someone else to handle your fashion show, I will slap you in the mouth when I see you. Seriously. Back handed. Here's their contact info, because I don't want you coming up with any lame excuses when I go to slap you:

Timefrozen Photography
Email: keith@timefrozen.com
Phone: (860) 656-7494
www.timefrozen.com

Painted By Brettnee
Email: paintedbybrettnee@gmail.com
Phone: (860) 874-9546
www.paintedbybrettnee.com



*the music video was co-created with Rabbit Ears Media, another fine Hartford artist!

Black Owned Business Week: Nu Style Cut Creators

To kick off this week, I decided to lead with my most used black-owned business. Whenever my locs are in need of a touch up, I drive down to Nu Style Cut Creators on Ann (Uccello) Street for the most prompt service that I have ever had at a black salon. Not to say that there's no one else in the city that will service you AT 10:30 when they made an appointment with you, but it's a rare find.

I get my locs twisted by Cedric Robinson, the owner of the shop, and he has a full staff of beauticians and barbers to meet any of your other hair needs. I've been coming to the shop since I went natural 2 years ago, and I'm always beyond satisfied with the service there. Beyond being able to do hair for all the different types of people that come in the shop, everyone who works there is just nice. You walk in the door and you're greeted with a smile from everyone behind a chair. I've had experiences where I walk in a shop and not one person looks me in the eye, or even asks me who I'm there to see. That would never happen at Nu Style, because as Cedric has told me many times before, he WANTS you to have a good experience in his shop. He understands that your time is just as valuable as his, so if he says your appointment is at 2:15, by 2:16 you're getting your hair washed. It should go without saying that you're expected to respect he and his staff's time as well, so no CP Time here. I forgot I had an appointment once and ended up running all the way to the shop to make it on time.

Since the shop has been open they've taken on more than just hair, adding a nail technician on-site and massages earlier this year. You can treat yourself to a one stop day of pampering right downtown!

If you're looking for a shop with raunchy locker room talk, you're out of luck. The conversation in the shop is never off-color so don't worry about having to cover kids' ears. The place is always clean, so you never have to walk home with more hair on your shoes than on your head, and at the end of the visit, everyone in the shop shouts a warm, "see ya later" as you leave.

If you're thinking about finding a new spot to get your hurr did, consider Nu Style. I know it sounds like a pain in the butt trying to find parking downtown, but the shop is very close to Allyn Street, which means there's plenty of parking during the day since those clubs and bars don't open til the shop is closed. Usually though, I luck out and find a spot right out front or across the street. Just don't forget to pay at the parking kiosk. The parking is ample, but they still ticket.


Contact:
Nu Style Cut Creators
183 Ann Street
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 560-3600

Theme Week #1: Black-Owned Businesses

What it is, people? I've been somewhere between busy and forgetful lately, and because of this the blog has suffered tremendously. I assure you that black people are still doing things, but I haven't been participating or blogging like I should have been.

In an effort to get myself back in the swing of things, I'm going to make up a theme week. The reasons for this are tri-fold:

1. I love themes. Theme parties, theme restaurants, whatev. If you put theme in front of it, I am fully down.
2. That's 5 days of stuff that I have already planned to write about. Now there's no reason for me to run out of content.
3. Hopefully, one of the things that I mention will be helpful to you. With the holiday season upon us, small businesses need our support just as much as the big guys. Added bonus if they serve alcohol, because we all need that during the holidays.

So the theme for the week will be: Black-owned Business Week.

As with all things mentioned here, (and hopefully in this country for that matter) none of the businesses I'll be writing about are only available to the browner skinned among us. My goal is to expose people to things that they may not hear about otherwise, so tell your friends and do what you can to make use of their services.