Portsmouth, NH February 2026

The Love Local

Issue

Love Local: A Celebration of Community

Dear Neighbors,

As February arrives, it brings a mix of emotions. While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the commercial aspects of the season, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to pause and celebrate love in all its forms.

This month’s issue is all about embracing and appreciating the unique charm of Portsmouth. From sharing stories of the Seacoast to celebrating talented artisans and passionate makers who bring life to our neighborhoods, February is the perfect time to honor what makes our city truly special.

As we transition from winter’s chill to the promise of spring, let’s take a moment to connect with the people and places that make our community shine. This issue is filled with ideas to help you “love local,” whether it’s grabbing a gift of beautiful chocolates from Curio Chocolate, enjoying a pastry and a drink at Buckley’s Market and Café, or stopping by MD Esthetics for a DiamondGlow facial.

Those of us who call the Seacoast home know we are here living and thriving even during the cold, dark months of late winter. We want to highlight how our neighbors are bringing light and warmth to our community.

See in these pages the people and places that you know and care about.  Thank you for letting us be part of your journey. We hope this issue inspires you to discover even more reasons to love local.

Wishing you a February filled with love and connection!

Warm regards,

KENDRA YANG, MANAGING EDITOR @PORTSMOUTHCITYLIFESTYLE

February 2026

PUBLISHER

Steve Yang | steve.yang@citylifestyle.com

PUBLICATION DIRECTOR

Robert Cook | robert.cook@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Kendra Yang | kendra.yang@citylifestyle.com

COPY EDITOR

Judith Rubenstein | judith.rubenstein@citylifestyle.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Kevin Edge | kevin@kephoto.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Mia Walston | mia.walston@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lara Bricker, Susan Gallagher, Rebecca Ingalls, Peggy Newland, Amber Peacock-Buttermore, Angela Smith

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Josh Govero

LAYOUT DESIGNER Amanda Schilling

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas

Proverbs 3:5-6

inside the issue

The

That Bring Us Home

FEBRUARY 2026

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

1: Miss New Hampshire Volunteer 2026 Sophia Sargent rides in the Portsmouth Holiday Parade 2: Piscataqua Landscaping CEO Justin Gamester awarded Large Business of the Year, presented by Wentworth-Douglass Hospital 3: The Library Restaurant’s signature lion is decked out for the holidays in grand style 4: TEDxPortsmouth team members attending a Long Story Short event at 3S Art Studios 5: Portsmouth Team Building's Larry Vanatta receives "Small But Mighty Award" at the 2025 Collaborative Awards 6: Tammy Joslyn of Operation Blessing displays "Non-Profit of the Year" at the 2025 Collaborative Awards 7: Needham Bank President Joseph Campanelli cuts the ribbon for the new branch on Maplewood Avenue

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Stories That Bring Us Home

Troy Farkas brings people together for a sense of connection in impersonal times

The Seacoast was given a gift when Troy Farkas planted roots in Portsmouth two years ago. A storytelling, strategy, and connection powerhouse, Farkas is the creator and producer of the popular Seacoast Stories podcast and Seacoast Stories Dinner Club.

After a difficult chapter in his life, Farkas landed in Portsmouth. He was searching for a creative, grounding place rich in history, and after forming friendships at 3 Bridges Yoga, he decided to stay. “I’d been searching for home for years, and the Seacoast kept showing up,” said Farkas. He renewed his lease, and his wheels began churning.

Farkas’ career included working with influential names, including ESPN and Spotify. While he’s grateful for those experiences, he sensed something deeper was calling him. He recognized a need for storytelling that went beyond sports and metrics. He craved personal—not digital—connection. Growing up as a performer, Farkas longed for a stage and belonging.

The inaugural episode of Seacoast Stories took place in June 2024. But it was in March of 2025 that Farkas reached a turning point that would ultimately change both his career and the Seacoast for the better. That’s when he hosted a live podcast on “The Found Generation” at the Music Hall Lounge, featuring Stephanie Paolini, owner of 3 Bridges Yoga, and Jennifer Wilder, owner of several hospitality brands including Laney and Lu.

ARTICLE BY AMBER PEACOCK-BUTTERMORE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN EDGE

Seventy-five people filled the room. It was what Farkas calls the “ride or die” moment. His commitment going forward became a larger-than life pursuit.

What Farkas discovered on the Seacoast is a rare blend of personal meaning and professional fulfillment. He does it all. He is the on-air host, producer, camera director, ticket runner, event planner, and sponsorship lead. He secured 32 sponsors in 2025, and he obsesses over every detail.

Farkas is committed to unveiling human truths that reveal vulnerability, identity, growth, and resilience. He believes that when we hear real stories, we connect on a more personal and communal level.

Certain stories have shaped his vision. Episodes centered on yoga have been deeply meaningful because of his own practice. Stories about businesses, restaurants, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs such as Bird Dog Cider, Vernon Family Farm, Limitless Fitness, Red’s Good Vibes, David Vargas, Laura Fox, and Tanya

Hart have been transformative for Farkas and his listeners. Some stories change individuals, while others change whole communities.

Across hundreds of interviews, Farkas has noticed clear patterns: collaboration over competition, people wanting one another to succeed, and female entrepreneurs shaping the region. "There is a shared devotion to growth on the Seacoast. People are doing big things—and everyone is supportive of one another’s dreams."

Seacoast Stories quickly filled a gap the community needed. In July 2025, Farkas launched the Seacoast Stories Dinner Club, which has created meaningful connections in a technology-driven era. The dinners bring together people of different ages, backgrounds, and industries. The events are about belonging.

Farkas positions prompts on tables, asking questions like, “Who inspires you?” and “Tell me something you’ve never said before.” The result is intimacy and trust. He has witnessed something rare unfold at these gatherings. People linger long after events end. Conversations continue. It is humanizing. Diners share their fears, hopes, and personal stories. They exchange phone numbers and become friends.

Like many who live here, Farkas believes there is something special about the Seacoast. His belief, strengthened by his own success, is that people want to see you win. People encourage each other. When someone shares an idea, the response is: “How can I help?” Farkas has used storytelling and connection to spark something special in Portsmouth.

PORTSMOUTH RESTAURANTS EVOLVE

Michael Timothy's family-run restaurant group leads its Seacoast expansion with Buckley's Market & Cafe

ARTICLE BY ANGELA SMITH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN EDGE

For more than three decades, Michael Timothy’s Dining Group has been building some of New Hampshire’s most beloved restaurants, from the original bistro in Nashua to Surf Seafood and Buckley’s Great Steaks. Now the family-owned group is expanding its footprint in and around Portsmouth with a new wave of Seacoast projects.

We sat down with Vice President Ian Buckley to learn more.

“The more we talked, the more it made sense, and it quickly went from ‘we’re not doing any new projects this year’ to ‘we’re doing four.’”

Q: HOW DID MICHAEL TIMOTHY'S DINING GROUP BEGIN, AND WHAT FIRST BROUGHT YOU TO PORTSMOUTH?

A: We’re a 31-year-old, family-owned restaurant group. My father, Michael, is an executive chef and started the company by opening Michael Timothy’s, a small chef-owned bistro in Nashua. We added Surf in Nashua and Buckley’s Great Steaks in Merrimack, then about 15 years ago, opened Surf in Portsmouth. We were a new face at first, but once people got to know us, the community welcomed us, and Surf has become one of our most consistent restaurants. The community has been amazing to us.

Q: YOU WEREN’T ACTIVELY LOOKING TO GROW, YET YOU’RE NOW TAKING ON FOUR SEACOAST LOCATIONS. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

A: Two years ago, we opened Lost Cowboy Brewing in Nashua, a large brewery, country bar, and barbecue

restaurant, so I wasn’t looking for anything new. But once people know you’re in the area, you’re always being presented with opportunities. In the second half of this year, the owner of CR’s in Hampton, who was ready to step back, reached out. Around the same time, Mark McNabb, who owned The Rosa, Martingale Wharf, and The Hearth, wanted to shift his focus to other projects in town. The more we talked, the more it made sense, and it quickly went from “we’re not doing any new projects this year” to “we’re doing four.” Sometimes you can’t dictate when the opportunity presents itself.

Q: WHAT ARE THOSE FOUR PROJECTS, AND HOW DO YOU SEE EACH ONE FITTING INTO THE SEACOAST?

A: The former Hearth space has become Buckley’s Market & Cafe. Our bakery and commissary in Merrimack supplies fresh pastries and prepared foods, and Portsmouth guests also get a full bar

program and catering. In the Martingale Wharf space, we’ll put in a casual New England seafood restaurant and event space on the water, in the Surf family, but with its own name and menu. Over in Hampton, we’ll take over CR’s, keep the existing concept in place for a short time, then close briefly to reopen it as a spot that blends a comfortable tavern feel with a classic steakhouse.

And then there’s The Rosa. It’s been there almost 100 years and has deep meaning for a lot of people in town. I’ve decided to keep the name because it’s iconic here. I don’t want to be the guy who comes in and rips it out. It’ll still be The Rosa, but with our recipes and our approach to classic, comfortable Italian food. We make our own pasta, marinara, meatballs, and lasagna — everything from scratch — so we’ll bring in our menu instead of trying to recreate something someone else did years ago.

Q: WHAT CAN GUESTS EXPECT AS THESE TRANSITIONS ROLL OUT?

A: With multiple projects going on, I need to focus on one at a time and get each one up and running before moving to the next. Right now, that’s the Buckley’s Market & Cafe in Portsmouth. At The Rosa and CR’s, the first couple of weeks after we take over, people really shouldn’t expect to see any changes. We need to get in there with our team, understand how things are run, and build trust with the staff. Then, we’ll roll out menu and bar changes as we integrate our company into what’s already there. It was important to me to have no downtime. I want to keep the staff fully employed and on board, so as an everyday customer, you won’t see big changes until we’re ready, and even then, we might only shut down for a day or two.

Q: WHY DOES PORTSMOUTH FEEL LIKE THE RIGHT PLACE TO KEEP INVESTING, AND HOW DOES THAT TIE INTO YOUR OVERALL BRAND?

A: Portsmouth has an excellent food scene, with lots of independent restaurants and a ton of options in a small, walkable downtown. We’ve always believed that consistency is everything. We’ve built our reputation on fresh, from-scratch menus and consistent service. I’d rather offer a very good meal seven nights a week than the best meal someone’s ever had once and just be okay the rest of the time. We deliver an upscale casual dining experience. You can come in a T-shirt or a business suit and spend $18 or $80, but it’s the same experience regardless. That’s how we’ll always operate, and that’s what we’re excited to bring more of to Portsmouth and the Seacoast.

ARTICLE BY PEGGY NEWLAND PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF THE GLEN HOUSE

Chasing Winter at Mount Washington

The Glen House offers warmth and welcome in the shadow of the coldest peak in New England

Mount Washington is a jewel in the White Mountains, sitting like a queen at more than 6,000 feet and wild in its weather patterns. In 2023, the peak set a record for wind chill of -108F. So, why visit in winter? Because this frosty landscape offers an escape to a wonderland below the “frozen lady.” Think Nordic skiing on groomed trails, the thrill of a tubing hill, snowshoeing through glazed pine forests, a heated Snow Coach tour to the tree line, or a seat with a view at The Glen House.

Situated below Mount Washington, The Glen House offers classic New England charm and comfort: a fireplace in the bar, locally-sourced cuisine, and rooms with feather quilts. Firepits line the deck, and blankets are there for bundling.

As a winter-enthusiast I am here to investigate. I choose a Nor'easter getaway and am rewarded with Great Gulf views between storms, and it’s difficult to leave the fireplace in the lobby. The concierge tells me about the history of this location at Pinkham Notch, “back when the railroads ran folks up” from Boston and Portland, Maine. An original lodge was

built in the early 1850s by John Bellows, and over the years, sold to J.M. Thompson, the Milliken Brothers, the Libby Family, and now the Mt. Washington Summit Road Company. Rebuilt many times over the late 1800s, and “caught up in devastating fires between the rebuilds and new ownerships,” this location, with views to Tuckerman Ravine and the Presidential Range, is prime mountain “eye candy.”

The storm passes and the sky clears so I slip on cross-country skis and hit the trails. I head up Clementine Wash to Thumper. Mount Washington is lit up and shining above. Pines are draped in powder. I zip down Dragon Corridor, heading back to the lodge for lunch and sign up for the Snow Coach tour.

“It’s an extreme world out there,” the driver says as we start the ascent up the Auto Road. “But in here, it’s nice and warm.”

I watch the pines disappear into scraggly sub-arctic glens of glacial deadwood. Below, cars, skiers, and hotel turn into Monopoly pieces. Surrounded by ravines, steep ridgelines, the Presidential Range, and undulating views of valleys and

Nordic Skiing at The Glen House

This location, with views to Tuckerman Ravine and the Presidential Range, is prime mountain “eye candy.”

peaks, we stop at 3,000 feet and stare over the edges of winter in full iced bloom.

That night, I dine fireside at the Notch Grille. Butternut squash soup and short ribs with mashed potatoes fill me up after an active day—and I top it off with cheesecake with blueberry compote. I look over the trail map for the snowshoe trails and make my plans for the next day.

Winter in Portsmouth is a wonderland of snowy fields, frozen ponds, and seascapes of freezing waves, but, as John Muir said, “the mountains are calling, and I must go.” Two hours from Portsmouth and a world away from stress, the White Mountains call and The Glen House answers with a peaceful retreat in the wild North Woods.

Details: theglenhouse.com

MEDICAL SPA Invites Glow

NEW OWNERSHIP EXTENDS ORIGINAL OWNERS’ HOLISTIC APPROACH AND EXPANDS SERVICES IN PORTSMOUTH

ARTICLE BY LARA BRICKER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN EDGE

Katie Boone and Emily-Anne Boone created something that became bigger than expected.

K. Boone began her career as a wedding photographer in Baltimore and dabbled in the restaurant industry before moving home to the Seacoast and partnering with her sister, E. Boone. The sisters, who grew up in York, Maine, launched LIIV Medical Aesthetics in a quaint brick building just steps from Portsmouth’s Market Square in 2023. They renovated the space to create a calm, boutique medical spa, where E. Boone served as medical director and K. Boone as the practice manager.

“There’s no better place than Portsmouth—aesthetically, the downtown is beautiful. When I moved back to this area, it was a breath of fresh air,” K. Boone said. “You have the beauty of the Seacoast, nature, eclectic businesses, and interesting people. I just love it.”

K. Boone is excited for the next era of the business, which has been acquired by MD Esthetics. Founded in 2018 by a husband-and-wife team, Dr. Michael Pedro and Danielle Pedro, the MD Esthetics medical-spa has locations across three states, totaling four in New Hampshire with the acquisition of Portsmouth.

“We're still giving clients the same quality service and expertise,” said K. Boone. “By joining with MD Esthetics, we now have greater resources, allowing us to offer new procedures, bring in advanced devices, and expand our provider team.”

Entering the spa’s reception area, clients may feel they're inside a boutique hotel instead of a medical spa, as they detect a hint of lemongrass, the spa's signature scent. Other rooms feature exposed brick, tall ceilings, and soothing colors. The wellness room features cozy chairs and a tall leafy plant.

The spa emphasizes natural results and embraces prevention before correction. Maria Ammon, Rebranding Manager for MD Esthetics, explains the spa’s approach. “Our focus is natural-looking results, personalized care, and treatments backed by medical expertise,” Ammon said. “Good skin health comes first.”

The medically guided offerings include injectables, laser skin rejuvenation, medical grade facials and peels,

weight loss medication, hormone optimization, and personalized skincare plans. One of the new treatments is the “DiamondGlow” facial, which uses a diamond-tipped wand on your face. “It exfoliates, brightens, and pulls impurities out of your skin,” said Ammon. “It also infuses a customized serum into your skin, depending on your skin type.” The InBody scanner uses bioelectrical impedance analysis to measure muscle mass, body-fat mass, bone mass, and body water. “It will literally give you everything,” said Ammon.

New clients begin by meeting a member of the medical staff like Gabby Sweeney, a nurse practitioner. “My passion really is about making our patients feel incredible from the inside out,” Sweeney said. “It’s really important at this practice that we value everything our patient says. We give a very detailed in-depth assessment and consult where we look at the whole person.”

Team members identify the root cause of a patient’s symptoms rather than just “putting a bandage” on them. While there's endless information online about wellness, weight loss, and hormone replacement, having access to a medical professional is essential.

“I think it’s absolutely fantastic for our patients to come in and have a board-certified provider sit down with them,” Sweeney said. “It’s individualized—there’s no black and white with the care of our skin,” Ammon adds that skin care doesn’t just include the exterior. “With our wellness program, it's inside-out as well, so it’s overall health.”

Jennifer Edgerly, a registered nurse, sees the chance to combine her experience as a labor and delivery nurse with her creative side at the medical spa.

“I’m a photographer on the side, so, coming from a hospital setting to a medical spa, I’m able to branch out and be more creative with my degree,” Edgerly said. “I love working with people—that’s why I became a nurse. I want to make people feel great about themselves even after they delivered their baby.”

Edgerly appreciates the holistic perspective at the practice and points to a trend toward people taking a preventative approach to their skin care.

“We can do things to help your body without adding things to your skin,” said Edgerly. “There are things like microneedling and lasers where your own body is doing more of the work.”

Although the name and ownership of the spa have changed, its warmth and commitment to clients have not. “I want everyone to know the team is still here, and we want everyone to come see us,” said K. Boone. “We're really excited to share the new services we’re offering.”

MD ESTHETICS

24 Ladd St, Portsmouth 603.812.3522 mdestheticsus.com

LILACS AND TIGERS

LOCAL

ARTIST MARISA KANG CELEBRATES BOTANICAL BEAUTY AND BRINGS BACK THE KOREAN TIGER

On the outside wall of Portsmouth’s Nahcotta Art Gallery, lilacs bloom, their vibrant, fanciful petals swaying in the light breeze. A few blocks away on Islington Street, a snarling tiger guards the premises of White Heron Cafe, asserting its presence. The two images are a study in contrast, yet intimately intertwined, both born of the artistic passion of Marisa Kang.

Like the connection between the two murals, Kang’s artistic soul is a shifting amalgam of free spirit and self-proclaimed control freak. While her carefree, capricious side is content like the lilacs, the serious artist at her core focuses intently on her work with the ferocity of the tiger. “We artists have visions of things and become obsessed with bringing them to life,” she says. “I am a free spirit, but when I am working on a project, I am totally dedicated to it.”

Kang, who is Jeju Island Korean, grew up in New Jersey and later New Hampshire in a household steeped in creativity. Her mother, a successful artist, is also an accomplished opera singer, and her brother a musician. Art and music flowed through the home.

While she considers herself American first, vibrations of her Korean heritage resonate in her paintings, which focus on botanicals and tigers. At the heart of her work are classic themes of Korean folk painting, or minhwa , an art form teeming with symbolism. In minhwa, specific flowers and plants represent qualities like resilience and enlightenment. Lilacs, like those depicted in Kang’s Nahcotta Gallery mural, are primarily associated with love.

But it is the tiger that features most prominently in this deeply emotional folk art. The image of the powerful striped feline is tied to Korean shamanism—a practice that connects the human and spiritual worlds—and is believed to ward off evil spirits. More significantly, the tiger is a proud symbol of the Korean people’s enduring spirit.

The tiger holds a special place in Kang’s artistic heart and was the subject of her first Portsmouth mural in 2019 on the building that housed Mr. Kim’s restaurant. The eye-catching black-and-white tiger is now gone, the victim of fresh paint applied by new owners. Kang does not mourn the loss of the mural, saying that while it would be ideal for her artwork to last forever, the notion is unrealistic. “The world is full of change and impermanence,” she says.

While the artist has accepted her mural’s fate, many Portsmouth residents expressed dismay at its loss. When Kang woke up the morning the mural disappeared, her inbox was full of emails exclaiming, “The tiger is gone! What are we going to do?” Kang believes its placement near Prescott Park, where so many people walk, gave the mural sentimental impact, something that runs deep in a small city with limited public art.

But the story does not end here for the disappearing tiger. In 2022, while researching Korean history, Kang learned that during Japan’s occupation of Korea from 1910–1945, the Japanese hunted down every tiger, obliterating the species in the country. In an ironic twist, the treaty the United States finalized in 1905 that allowed the Japanese occupation was signed in Portsmouth and dubbed the Treaty of Portsmouth.

The saga of Kang’s tiger murals mirrors history in a remarkable way—with a gratifying alternate ending. Three years before her historical discoveries, Kang painted her first Korean tiger mural in Portsmouth, home of the treaty signing. Four years later, new business developers covered the mural.

In 2025, Kang brought the tiger back—bigger and bolder—with the new mural at White Heron. “It’s funny symbolism,” she laughs. “They may have removed my first tiger, but I brought it back four times bigger!” The mighty tiger no longer roams Korea, but thanks to Marisa Kang, one is thriving in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Portsmouth is also where Kang got her start as an artist, painting and teaching at the Button Factory from 2012–2020. She employs mosaic pointillism, the dot technique, for her botanical paintings, placing dots side by side with her finger one by one. She fills an entire canvas—or wall—with dots to create an image. For large murals like the tigers, she uses spray paint to speed up the process. With either technique, the results are striking and alive.

Pondering her future, Kang says she is on a mission. A certified welder, she dreams of someday creating a huge wind vessel, painting it, and displaying it as public art. Not your everyday objective, but not surprising coming from this complex, multifaceted artist. Kang smiles, saying, “It’s a strange path we walk to get to that certain place within.”

To see Marisa Kang’s work, visit marisakang.com

“THEY MAY HAVE REMOVED MY FIRST TIGER, BUT I BROUGHT IT BACK FOUR TIMES BIGGER!”

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ARTICLE BY REBECCA INGALLS PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDY BROWN

AND Chocolate POSSIBILITY

From Imagination to Confection: The Art of Curio Chocolate

With two locations in Exeter and Portsmouth, Curio Artisan Chocolate is a gallery, sensory delight, and passion project. At either location, owner Samantha Brown will invite you into her ever-evolving imagination, elegantly wrapped in the expertise of an artist. It's no surprise to learn “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” sparked her affinity for chocolate. The face of Wonka, the fictional father of the chocolate dream-come-true, hangs proudly in the space.

A former teacher, Brown listened years ago to a calling and journeyed into the world of chocolate making. Her entrepreneurial spirit was inspired by the film “Chocolat.” She reflects on Juliet Binoche’s character Vianne: “Here was a woman sharing beautiful chocolates and growing a business against the odds.”

For Brown, the odds would become a hidden blessing. While she was working for Dancing Lion Chocolate in Manchester, Brown endured the devastation of a house fire. In its wake, she beheld the loss of material belongings, but found light amidst it. “That fire pushed me to start my dream of my own chocolate shop,” she said. “It also reinforced that tasting, creating, and sharing are more important than the things that fill our homes.”

Following a path trod by accomplished artists, Brown built on her experience, sought out exceptional training, and propelled

her vision forward. Her education has taken her to places like France and Grenada, and she has cultivated a multi-faceted understanding of the delicacy of fine chocolate. Like wine or cheese, chocolate is complex and geographically influenced, and if it is going to play with other flavors, it should play well. Additionally, Brown explains, the presentation of a piece of chocolate is critical to the experience. She quotes a master chocolatier at Ecole Valrhona, who taught her, “you taste with your eyes first.”

Brown aims to embody these words in each of her creations at Curio’s confectionary boutiques. The shops duly represent all compulsory categories of sweets from jellies and marzipan to nougats and truffles, and an array of chocolate drinks. Each piece is created with Brown’s penchant for unique expression. “Curio reflects who I am,” she said. “Curious, innovative, full of imagination, and trying new things. I want Curio to bring more whimsy, innovation, and fun to the chocolate world.”

Innovation is only part of Curio’s mission. Brown also shares a strong awareness of the darker realities of the chocolate industry. Her experience as a teacher has made her an advocate for child safety and education. As a result, she strives to source chocolate from suppliers who do not use child labor.

Additionally, Brown is dedicated to partnering with companies that harvest their cacao from sustainably-grown trees, with respect for the environments in which they thrive. Brown wants her customers to not only find deliciousness in what they see and taste but also to take heart in knowing the goodness is rooted in ethical production.

Curio’s customer base includes travelers who flock to the Seacoast for all its wonders, but Brown also has the pleasure of meeting locals who discover her edible art. “We talk about the kinds of food they like, the places they travel to, and what they love about chocolate,” she says. “Some of our oldest customers met us exactly that way, and they’ve become good friends.” With these relationships in mind, Curio has struck a balance between exquisiteness and old-fashioned human connection. After all, the success of Brown’s product relies on its appeal to those who taste it.

Drawing from sensory experiences, like tasting flavors in a restaurant, Brown conjures ideas for beautiful, challenging recipes, an endeavor that requires risk taking. "I experiment with flavor constantly, pairing chocolate with things like mustard, wasabi, duck fat, and others," she said. "I play with tricky vegan recipes and different kinds of nut and fruit combinations.”

Every chef knows the courage required in sharing such new concoctions, but Brown enjoys that part. “There aren’t too many things better than making food and watching someone try it for the first or 21st time. Seeing the bliss on their face as they let the flavors blend on their tastebuds is an amazing experience.”

“There aren’t too many things better than making food and watching someone try it for the first or 21st time... it's an amazing experience.”

And if a flavor just doesn’t seem right? Brown’s meticulousness brings her right back to her imagination, with an unwavering and adventurous spirit.

Being the curator of chocolate art is a daily commitment. Business is busy and days away are few, but the prospect of “chocolate and possibility,” as she calls it, pushes Brown to explore newness on every level. “Once you start creating with chocolate,” she muses, “you can’t stop. It becomes an expression of who you are.”

In that way, Curio is a kind of grown-up playground, where all are welcome to partake in the sweet magic Brown creates.

Exeter and Portsmouth locations curioartisanchocolate.com

FEBRUARY 2026

FEBRUARY 18TH 2026 Market

Outlook Webinar

Online | 7:00 PM

Presented By: Art Meconi, Private Wealth Advisor - Meconi Financial Management & Advisory. How are recent market events impacting your finances? During this session, we’ll discuss factors that may contribute to market volatility and offer strategies to help you weather market uncertainty. To reserve a spot: email alexis.mckenna@ampf.com

FEBRUARY 18TH

“Stomp” at the Music Hall

The Music Hall, The Historic Theater, 28 Chestnut St, Portsmouth | 7:30 PM STOMP returns with new routines and surprises—explosive, unique, and thrilling percussion that captivates all ages. See what all the noise is about!

FEBRUARY 20TH & 21ST

The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club, 135 Congress St, Portsmouth | 7:30 PM

The Fabulous Thunderbirds are a seminal blues and blues-rock band who have earned numerous Grammy and Blues Music Award nominations. Celebrating their 50th anniversary, they’ve released Struck Down, their first studio album in eight years, featuring nine originals co-written by Kim Wilson and Steve Strongman plus a Memphis Minnie cover. Shows are February 20 and  21. Visit  https://jimmysoncongress. com/tickets/ for tickets.

www.brsc.vip

The Sideline Sizzler

NY strip steak, twice baked potato, creamed spinach, sauce bordelaise

Stay Warm this Winter

12" Classic Pizza - Arugula, roasted squash, radicchio, feta, balsamic drizzle

Social Spritz

Bombay Sapphire, Lillet Blanc, lemon juice, topped with prosecco and soda

After Hours Old Fashioned

Bulleit Bourbon, demerara sweetness, Angostura bitters, kissed with cinnamon smoke