THE SEACOASTDWELLINGS TEAM
By planning today, you relieve your loved ones of the burden of making difficult decisions, ensuring that you remain in control of your care and lifestyle—on your terms.
Living with Style and Intention
Style is more than what we wear—it’s how we live. It’s reflected in the clothes we choose, of course, but also in how we decorate our homes, the gifts we give, the rituals we keep, and the places that draw us in. Over the years, my own style has evolved, but one thing has remained true: it always reflects who I am and what I value. Since settling by the water in Portsmouth, my style has taken on a more relaxed tone, inspired by natural light and its play on the water. At its heart, style is about living with intention.
Portsmouth—and the greater Seacoast—offer the perfect backdrop for that kind of intentional living. While its historic charm and picturesque streets draw you in, it’s the vibrant community of small, independent businesses that truly give this area its character. The boutiques, specialty shops, and creative spaces here are thoughtfully curated and deeply personal. They celebrate individuality, craftsmanship, and the joy of slow discovery.
In this issue, we’re proud to highlight a few of these local gems. Meet Maxine "Maxx" Graves, the dynamic entrepreneur behind Maxxology, a shop where fashion is bold, expressive, and accessible. Then, turn the page to celebrate the 50-year legacy of Madeleine’s Daughter bridal boutique, a beloved institution that has helped generations of women feel beautiful. Featuring both fresh voices and enduring classics, the shop and its team demonstrate how Portsmouth continues to evolve while honoring its roots.
We also invite you to explore Alnoba, a one-of-a-kind retreat center tucked away in nearby Kensington. With its open-air sculpture park and purpose-driven programs, Alnoba reminds us that style can be just as present in how we think, grow, and lead as it is in how we look and decorate.
Finally, meet Amy Greene, a Portsmouth resident, stunt coordinator, and performer. Her fearless, creative career is a powerful reflection of personal style lived with authenticity and intention.
We hope this issue inspires you to explore your own sense of style—through the things you wear, the places you support, and the life you create.
ANNE
PUBLISHER
Anne Moodey | anne.moodey@citylifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Tara Phillips | tara.phillips@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Judith Rubenstein | judith.rubenstein@citylifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Kevin Edge
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Sarah Coleman | clementsarahann@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Susan Gallagher, Rebecca Ingalls, Gail Huff, Ann Kathryn Kelly
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Breonna Wells Photography, Nicole Rae Photography, Caitlin Loftus Photography, Lena Mirisola Photography, Maddie Bethune Photography, Leah Haydock Photography
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Josh Govero
September 2025 Visit our Instagram
LAYOUT DESIGNER Amanda Schilling
Hannah Leimkuhler
QUALITY
inside the issue
Wonderland of Art
Alnoba’s renowned outdoor sculpture collection displays art in nature’s gallery
A Legacy of Celebrations
Elizabeth Dirom, owner of Madeleine’s Daughter, honors its origins and commemorates its success Class With a Little Sass
Women find fashion flair with Maxine Graves at Maxxology
Amy Greene
Our cover model is Lisa Michelle, owner and stylist of Opal Luxe Salon. Michelle is fashioned by Maxine Graves, owner of Maxxology and photographed by Kevin Edge with stylist Jared Parker.
Kevin Edge
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN SEPTEMBER
city scene
1: John Craig and Nancy Hamilton ready themselves for the 4th of July Fireworks. 2: Senator Maggie Hassan; Linnea Grim, President/CEO Strawbery Banke; Governor Kelly Ayotte; Representative Chris Pappas; and Senator Jeanne Shaheen at Naturalization Ceremony. 3: Libby Lorman with sons, Wyatt and Oliver, show their 4th spirit while attending the local fireworks. 4: Ned and Nicole Paul and Susie and Chris Reaney enjoying a night on the town. 5: Leslie and Matt Allen celebrate with our Lady of Liberty at the Naturalization Ceremony on July 4th. 6: Jenny Sears lends a helping hand to Kailey Gould with her newest little family members at Seacoast Strength & Conditioning summer luau. 7: Donna Gould and Steve Brady with trainer extraordinaire and Seacoast Strength & Conditioning owner Josh Gould.
WONDERLAND OF ART
Alnoba’s renowned outdoor sculpture collection displays art in nature’s gallery
ARTICLE BY SUSAN GALLAGHER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALNOBA
On the expansive grounds of Alnoba in Kensington, New Hampshire, Harriet Lewis gazes up affectionately at the dignified visage of a towering bronze sculpture that dwarfs her petite frame. Titled “Prayer,” this emotive figure of a Native American man strikes a pose of prayerful supplication, eyes half-closed, mouth open in worship, palms upturned. Lewis’ blue eyes shine with memories of the day she and her late husband, Alan, discovered this captivating piece and its Native American creator Allan Houser (Haozous) in the artist’s New Mexico sculpture garden. “We fell madly in love with his sculptures,” Lewis declares.
Lewis found Houser’s work deeply moving, seeing in it “the face of Native American connection to a higher power.” Houser, a descendant of Geronimo, honors his people’s strength and endurance in his riveting sculptures. The Lewises purchased Houser’s “Prayer,” sparking the genesis of what would become a vast, eclectic art collection from around the globe.
In the beginning, Lewis added more works by Houser and other Native American artists, but her worldwide travels soon inspired her to include artists of diverse backgrounds and styles. British sculptor and environmentalist Andy Goldsworthy soon became a favorite, and three of his works now grace Alnoba’s land. His pieces explore the relationships between humans and their
natural surroundings, and the beauty in loss and regeneration. The thought-provoking “Boulder House,” a dwelling of boulders built into the landscape, offers entry through a dark, forbidding doorway that Lewis aptly calls “off-putting”—something she has come to oddly love about it. Of Goldsworthy, Lewis says, “I adore the way he thinks. He is so solidly himself.”
The sculptures themselves are only part of the art experience at Alnoba. The open-air setting on the sprawling 600-acre property provides a stunning synergy between the artworks and Mother Nature. Patrick Dougherty’s “The Jealous Wall” appears to be part of the forest itself, its winding willow branches intertwining with the surrounding trees. In a meadow, a rotund bronze gorilla surveys his verdant domain as a family of Indian elephants woven
Opposite Left Top: Gorilla, Brett Murray, 2017
Opposite Left Bottom: Watershed Boulder, Andy Goldsworthy, 2015-2016
Opposite Right Bottom: Great Elephant
Migration, Southern India Artisans
Above: The Jealous Wall, Patrick Dougherty, 2022
“THIS COLLECTION HAS JUST KEPT ON GOING—AND GROWING. AND I AM NOT FINISHED.”
from reeds meanders nearby. There is something dynamic about these artworks, as if nature’s life force infuses them.
Lewis, a self-proclaimed “woods girl,” fits in here like a woodland sprite. But beyond her outdoorsy exterior lies the heart of a born philanthropist. The daughter of a psychiatric nurse dedicated to helping the less fortunate and an OB-GYN who delivered babies at no cost for those in need, Lewis grew up in a family of givers. Conversations around the dinner table were always about how to help people.
Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation, the nonprofit she co-founded with her husband, has a mission that reaches far beyond the impressive art collection. The ambitious goal is to change people’s lives through social and racial justice, environmental conservation, and leadership training. Alnoba is an Abenaki word meaning “being” or “becoming,” and the organization’s Pinnacle Leadership program helps leadership teams from all over the world “become” stronger through team building. Its youth programs teach the next generation of leaders how to make a difference in the world. “Anyone can be a leader,” says Lewis. “We grow leaders.”
Touring the trove of art on this land of goodwill is a far cry from the “hands-off” visit to a traditional art museum. Alnoba encourages touching and interacting with
the sculptures—even walking and climbing on some. Orly Genger’s “Going, Going, Gone” is a children’s favorite for this reason. Its flowing crimson mass of recycled lobster ropes evokes undulating red waves that fairly cry out, “climb aboard.”
Alnoba is not an art park but a property for Leadership and Team Development. The art here is for inspiration—something that is omnipresent in this serene landscape of art and natural splendor. The exhibit is not open to the public, but those interested can go to alnoba.org/events to sign up for a tour. All proceeds go to Kensington’s Sawyer Park.
Lewis’ passion for her extraordinary outdoor display is boundless and her quest for uniquely expressive artworks is far from over. “This collection has just kept on going—and growing,” she says. “And I am not finished.”
Opposite Top: Harriet Lewis
Top: Going, Going, Gone, Orly Genger, 2016
RIght: Prayer, Allan Houser, 1994
Bottom: Colossal Fragment, Lionel Smit, 2016
STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY
PHOTOGRAPHY
ARTICLE BY REBECCA INGALLS
A LEGACY OF CELEBRATIONS
Elizabeth Dirom, owner of Madeleine’s Daughter, honors its origins and commemorates its success
Asia Lempka | Maddie
Bethune Photography
Through its 50 years in business, Madeleine’s Daughter in Portsmouth has held two values above all others: legacy and passion. Since 2006, the shop has been owned and operated by Elizabeth Dirom, who glows when she reflects on her love for her work, and is quick to give credit to her predecessor and mentor, Janice Wood, whose mother was Madeleine.
Madeleine’s Daughter opened in 1975, specializing in bridalwear and formalwear to honor celebratory experiences with style. Its location on Portsmouth’s Vaughan Mall was close to the high-end retail store Mary Mahoney’s. Mahoney, that shop’s owner, served as an important advisor to Wood.
Wood later moved her shop to the Portsmouth traffic circle, where Dirom joined her in 1996. After taking some time away to raise her family, Dirom returned to the shop’s next location on Lafayette Road, where it stands today. She worked side by side with Wood for several years until Wood became ready to pass the business on.
Since taking ownership, Dirom and her staff have continued to sustain and build on Wood’s vision of prioritizing the unique experience of getting married. “People who are successful in this industry have a passion for being part of the magic that happens,” Dirom explains. “We want to know where people are getting married, how they met, the flowers they have chosen. I love all of it. And everyone here on the sales side gets to be a part of it.”
Dirom keeps close tabs on fashion trends, attending twice-yearly bridal markets and tapping into the vibe of what is to come, keeping her eye on the timing of haute couture and more mainstream designs. Through the years, she has witnessed the cyclic evolution of wedding style, and notes that while the runway plays a key role in cultivating the
Kaitlyn (Ogborn) Parker | Caitlin Loftus Photography
visibility of trends, what seems to go away often returns. “Fashion from the ’80s and ’90s is now coming back,” she says. “Sleeves. Pick-ups. Satin fabric. A higher sheen, and the swish of the gown.”
And yet, even with the fickle nature of fashion, some styles never fade. This is a truth that is integral to the original ethos of the shop. “‘Clean and classic’ just doesn’t go away,” says Dirom. “The A-line. The Princess. The classic lace dress. And ivory is still the go-to color.” To a younger customer, these evergreen styles might seem “vintage.” But to Dirom, they are timeless. “We have some Bohemian, glam styles sprinkled into our inventory, and we can appeal to all brides, but we also stay true to who we are.”
Despite the endurance of classic styles, the bridal customer has indeed changed, and social media has had a lot to do with that. “Customers have more information than they have ever had,” Dirom reflects. She recalls how there once was a physical binder containing pages showing all of
Asia Lempka | Maddie Bethune Photography
Elizabeth Drirom
Chris Keeley Photography
Courtney (Jones) O’Shea | Breonna Wells Photography
the styles. Now, shoppers have all of the options online at their fingertips.
But Madeleine’s Daughter gently pushes back on the rush for the readily accessible product with what Dirom calls a “closed concept.” Instead of rifling aimlessly through countless dresses, clients are invited to create a wish list from the online inventory. This wish list then becomes a guide for stylists to use as they work their artistic alchemy, mindfully offering each option to the client. Even if a customer comes in with their mind set on what they want, a personalized, pampered experience is what the shop aims to offer. “Our stylists style the bride,” explains Dirom. “Accessories, a topper, a belt, a veil or headpiece. Even if it is a classic dress, it is unique for the person wearing it. It cannot be replicated.”
And lest one think that decorating a bride is all white lilies and champagne, it’s important to note that each new stylist must undergo two months of classroom and on-the-floor training prior to working with clientele. It’s a curriculum that attends to legacy and passion, but also to confidence, expertise, and hard work. Stylists must show up for a client as if they are their only client—and that’s where enthusiasm, another tenet of Madeleine’s
Bridal Sylist | Leah Haydock Photography
Inaara (Lalji) Kuffert | Lena Mirisola Photography
Inaara (Lalji) Kuffert | Lena Mirisola Photography
Daughter, comes in. “We enjoy coming to work every single day,” Dirom says warmly.
She lights up again as she considers the future of her shop. “We are seeing gentlemen wanting to purchase suits and tuxedos, and the community needs a men’s retail store.” She is proud of the “whole vision” the shop tries to create for a wedding party, which includes one stylist who seems to know exactly how to make the
mothers of the bride and groom feel special. What’s more, the reach of the shop has grown to include five states, as word of mouth sends new clients her way.
But even while she focuses on the promise of the future, Dirom returns to her reverence for Madeleine’s Daughter herself. “I think of her often,” she says warmly of her mentor, Wood. “I want her to be proud of it.”
Madeline (Avina) Danevich | Nicole Rae Photography
Launched in 2024, Collaborate & Listen is the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth’s podcast which celebrates the stories of our members.
Seasons 1 and 2 are live now. Past guests have included:
Tom Bath
Monte Bohanan
Heidi Carrington Heath
Michael Cinquino
Julie Cutting
Jennifer Desrosiers
Paul Gilson
Krystal Hicks
Amanda Kidd-Kestler
Keith Bamford
Elizabeth Chilton
Cariann Daley
Chris Dwyer
Sarah Lachance
Cheryl Lesser
Lionel Loveless
Regina Piantedosi
John Randolph
Courtney Ritchings
Darin Roark
Tina Sawtelle
Maya Shrinivasan
Anne Weidman
Kaley Gagne
Michelle Lemay
Beth Moreau
Ben Wheeler
CLASS WITH A LITTLE SASS
ARTICLE BY GAIL HUFF PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN EDGE
WOMEN FIND FASHION FLAIR WITH MAXINE GRAVES AT MAXXOLOGY
When meeting this 50-something, glamorous woman wearing designer clothes, you’d probably never guess she’s a U.S. Air Force veteran, accomplished M16 marksman, and serious weightlifter.
But Maxine "Maxx" Graves, who spent 30 years working in corporate finance, has broken out of her button-up business suit and is celebrating her life’s second act—in fashion. As owner of the new Maxxology apparel store in downtown Portsmouth, her work outfit is more likely to be a colorful, midi-length Donna Morgan dress paired with lace-up black sandals.
“I never thought I’d end up working in retail but I love to dress up. Styling women and working in fashion allows me a chance to be creative,” says Graves.
Graves grew up in Philadelphia, where her father Max owned a mechanics shop and taught her how to fix cars and change tires. But her dream was to be high in the skies, flying planes for the U.S. Air Force. She came to the Seacoast in 1985 when she was an airman stationed at Pease Air Force Base. Graves didn’t get the pilot assignment. Instead, she was assigned the job of teaching other airmen how to handle their personal budgets and retirement accounts. She soon gave up her dream of flying planes and changed course to attend Franklin Pierce University, where she got her degree in accounting and finance with a minor in marketing.
For the next 30 years, Graves worked in finance. Much of her career was spent at Heinemann, an educational publishing company in Portsmouth. On the side, she started a business called Maximum Entertainment and Elegant Events, which she continues to operate. Graves’ most recent event-planning job was a Memorial Day Weekend wedding at Kitts Farm in Strafford. Her business slogan is “You don’t need a big budget to make your event elegant.”
CONTINUED >
“I never thought I’d end up working in retail but I love to dress up. Styling women and working in fashion allows me a chance to be creative.”
Even with the planning business, Graves felt she wasn’t using the creative side of her brain. She’d always loved fashion, so she took a part-time job at Lizology, a women’s apparel shop in Portsmouth. That’s where she discovered her life’s passion of helping women feel good about themselves. She describes herself as part therapist and part stylist.
“So many women are stuck in the same old pattern of dressing. Society has done a number on them by imposing a certain idea of beauty and they’re afraid to try something different or new,” explains Graves.
When Lizology closed, Graves decided to open her own fashion apparel store in Portsmouth’s Vaughan Mall. She features recognized designers like Lilly Pulitzer, Kut From the Kloth, Donna Morgan, and Last Tango. Graves mixes higher-priced designs with more moderately priced pieces, and carries colorful skirts, dresses, shirts, pantsuits, and jumpers, all in the latest styles. Shoppers will also find a good selection of sparkle and shine in the jewelry and accessories. To dress up a simple outfit, Graves adds a blinged-out belt or a sparkling tiara-like headband.
“I’d define my style as class with a little sass. I love pearls and classic designs but I like to mix in contemporary pieces like costume jewelry.”
When asked about this fall’s fashion trends, Graves says to look for hues of chocolate brown, olive green, navy, and neutrals. Popular skirts are midi-length with a front or side slit to show off low block heels. A cut-out in the shoulder (called a cold shoulder) is popular, as is the kimono sleeve. She carries all sizes.
“I want my customers to feel good no matter their size or age.”
MAXXOLOGY
Open daily at 39 Vaughan Mall in Portsmouth
Follow on Instagram @maxxology_
Meet the Models
Maxine Graves | Navy jumpsuit and Olive green laser shine leaf jacket
Paula Slattery | Ivory blazer and crinkle cut jogger Lisa Michelle | Green pleating top and wide leg pleating pants
Christian Gamble | Retro 60's style sweater and polo shirt with jeans
Danielle Kimball | Black pearl dress and faux fur cropped jacket
Meet the Stylists
Hair & make-up by Lisa Michelle; owner of Opal Luxe Salon at 210 Market Street in Portsmouth @opalluxesalon
Photo shoot stylist Jared Parker @jmichaelstyle
Thank you to Portwalk Place in Portsmouth for sharing your beautiful lobby space.
Stunts & Storytelling
AMY GREENE
BRINGS
MUSCLE, MOTION, AND MASTERY TO DELIVER MEMORABLE MOVIE MOMENTS
ARTICLE BY ANN KATHRYN KELLY
Amy Greene is at the top of her game in Hollywood, and she flipped, kicked, and fought for every inch that got her there.
A Screen Actors Guild member, Greene is in demand as a stunt coordinator and stunt performer who specializes in fight choreography, driving sequences, high falls, wire work, water work, and more. She has stunt-doubled for Meryl Streep, Laura Linney, Amy Adams, and others. And she’s an EMT and personal trainer, to boot!
On top of all this, she’s part of the award-winning duo— with her partner, Chris Stinson—leading Live Free or Die Films, an independent production company in Portsmouth behind the Oscar-winning movies “The Holdovers” and “Sound of Metal,” among others. Here, Amy describes how she got to the top of her field and gives us a glimpse of movie magic.
AMY, IT’S NO WONDER YOUR NICKNAME IS GREENE MACHINE. HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
I was a dancer and gymnast from childhood, and got into boxing as a young adult. I moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the movie industry, working my way up from casting assistant to director’s assistant. A colleague who knew I boxed suggested I look into stunt work, and it was an “Aha!” moment. Over the next 10 years, I learned everything I could about choreographing stunts while continuing to train in boxing and gymnastics, and layering in new stunt skills.
Red Carpet at Sundance Film Festival
TELL US ABOUT LIVE FREE OR DIE FILMS.
Chris Stinson is the producer and I do what’s called “second unit directing,” which is directing all action sequences in our films. Our first step is to break down each film’s script, then I map out sequences before we leave for movie shoots. You can learn more about us and see a list of our films at livefreeordiefilms.com.
YOU’VE JUST RETURNED FROM CAPE COD, WHERE YOU WRAPPED YOUR NEXT MOVIE. WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
We’re collaborating with A24 Films on a movie called “Tony” about Anthony Bourdain’s early life working at a restaurant on the Cape. Dominic Sessa plays young Bourdain, and Antonio Banderas also stars.
TELL US ABOUT A FEW MEMORABLE STUNTS.
My first big stunt was in a Kirsten Dunst film called “Woodshock” where I fell 50 feet (in a stunt harness) from a crane in the redwoods. For the horror movie “The Nun” I was ratcheted up a flight of stairs and down a hallway on a high speed winch, and then ‘drowned’ in a tank. I stunt drove in the memorable driving sequence from “Knives Out” and lately I’ve had a lot of fun doubling Meryl Streep in “Only Murders in the Building.” I’m also proud of the stunt sequences I created on my latest movie, Netflix’s “Night Always Comes,” released on August 15.
WHAT’S SOMETHING AUDIENCES ARE NOT AWARE OF THAT PLAYS A ROLE IN EVERY STUNT’S SUCCESS?
Audiences might be surprised to learn that even a 10-second stunt represents weeks of planning and practice, and days of filming.
HOW DOES SAFETY FACTOR INTO STUNT WORK?
Filmmaking is inherently dangerous. Everyone from cast to crew is on set working long hours, and there’s a lot of heavy equipment around us. I have a heightened sense of safety because I’ve trained in the
CONTINUED >
“Audiences might be surprised to learn that even a 10-second stunt represents weeks of planning and practice, and days of filming.”
Fighting Shape with Nostos Crew
A colleague who knew I boxed suggested I look into stunt work, and it was an “Aha!” moment. Over the next 10 years, I learned everything I could about choreographing stunts while continuing to train in boxing and gymnastics, and layering in new stunt skills.
rigorous physicality of stunts, so I take my time with action sequences. We set up distances and limits. With fire and water scenes, I bring in specialists. I also advocate for humane work hours, and I became an EMT and renew my certification every two years so I can help with an emergency on set, if needed.
HOW DO YOU KEEP YOURSELF IN FIGHTING SHAPE?
My training in New Hampshire is very different than it was in New York or Los Angeles, where they have all kinds of facilities—from marine to aerial to driving tracks. I needed to locate the right facilities here, and design my own training. I have to cover a lot of bases.
I train at Nostos Mixed Martial Arts in Somersworth with Devin Powell and at New Hampshire Academy of Gymnastics in Hampton and Atlantic Gymnastics in Portsmouth. I do tactical and firearm work at the Sig Sauer Academy range in Epping, and I have scuba certification from Portsmouth Scuba.
DO YOU SEE ANY CHANGES AHEAD FOR YOUR FIELD?
Well, you might have noticed that the Oscars’ technical categories have never included stunt work. I’m excited that starting in 2028, there will be an Academy Award for Stunt Design. I’ve got to keep training and learning so I can clinch that!
Training Day at Sig Sauer
Woodshock
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As Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, it’s the perfect time to start preparing your New England home for shorter days and the colder months ahead. At Heritage Home Service, we recommend taking advantage of the early fall weather to tackle essential home maintenance tasks. Schedule a heating system check-up to ensure it’s ready when temperatures drop, inspect and seal any drafty windows or doors, and checking outdoor lighting for safety as daylight hours fade. It’s also a great time to flush your water heater, test your generator and clean gutters before leaves begin to fall. A little prep now can make a big difference in comfort—and peace of mind—all season long.