"The goal of Down East has always been to hold a mirror up to Maine — its storied past and lively present — and to celebrate its flinty, independent character and unhurried way of life. As Maine has changed with the times, however, so has Down East. Today the state has come to embrace its future as well as its past. Accordingly, the magazine now focuses more on contemporary Maine life and what the future might bring and less on historical background and quaint rusticity. Booming circulation and advertising gains demonstrate the wisdom of this editorial shift."
Portland Public Library's collection of Down East is complete, and begins with the first issue, August 1954. The hard copies are available in the Portland Room.
Submissions from 2023
101 Reasons to Love Summer in Maine, Hadley Gibson
11 Maine Residencies Where the Arts Thrive, Adrienne Perron
A Spectacle of Abundance, Brian Kevin
Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Heating with Wood but Didn't Know Who to Ask, Katy Kelleher
Food and Drink: A Bitters Taste, Joel Crabtree
Food and Drink: Be Her Guest, Teresa Versteeg
Food and Drink: Bye, Bye Mixologist Guy?, W. G.
Food and Drink: Elevated Fare, Will Grunewald
Food and Drink: Fresh From the Vault, Will Grunewald
Food and Drink: Full of Beans, Sarah Stebbins
Food and Drink: Home Brewed, W. G.
Food and Drink: Home Cooking, Jesse Ellison
Food and Drink: How Green Was My Shedder?, Will Grunewald
Food and Drink: Miracle on Ocean Street, Michaela Cavallaro
Food and Drink: Move Over, Malts, W. G.
Food and Drink: Off-Beet Idea, Katy Kelleher
Food and Drink: Pizza alla Peaks, Will Grunewald
Food and Drink: Potentially Potent Potables, Katy Kelleher
Food and Drink: Rolling Again, Will Grunewald
Food and Drink: Tip-Top Shape, W. G.
Food and Drink: What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love, and Waffle Branding?, Brian Kevin
Food and Drink: 'Wich Craft, Will Grunewald
Food and Drink: Wrap Session, Will Grunewald
Good Things From Maine: Animal Crossing, A. P.
Good Things From Maine: Armchair Expert, Adrienne Perron
Good Things From Maine: Bangor's Retro Renaissance?, A. P.
Good Things From Maine: Cool Trends, Adrienne Perron
Good Things From Maine: Draught Craft, A. P.
Good Things From Maine: Everything is Ayumi-Nated, A. P.
Good Things from Maine: Lady of the Lids, Ann Pollard Ranco
Good Things From Maine: Magic Mushrooms, Becca Abramson
Good Things From Maine: Meet Your Maker, A. P.
Good Things from Maine: Need for Beads, Chelsea Diehl
Good Things From Maine: No Skin in the Game, Monique Brouillette
Good Things From Maine: Picks of the Litter, Adrienne Perron
Good Things From Maine: Say Yes to the Dress, Adrienne Perron
Good Things From Maine: Sole Proprietor, Adrienne Perron
Good Things from Maine: Stranger Things, A. P.
Good Things From Maine: The Woman Behind the Masks, Arielle Greenberg
Good Things From Maine: Welcome to the Dollhouse, Sara Anne Donnelly
Maine Fauna A to Z, Down East staff writers
Maine Fauna A to Z: A is for Arctic Char, Brian Kevin
Maine Fauna A to Z: C is for Caribou, Ron Joseph ["as told to"]
Maine Fauna A to Z: D is for Dogs, Kathryn Miles
Maine Fauna A to Z: H is for Hagfish, Virginia M. Wright
Maine Fauna A to Z: J is for Jackson Laboratory, Peter Andrey Smith
Maine Fauna A to Z: M is for Moose, B. K.
Maine Fauna A to Z: P is for Puffins, Derrick Z. Jackson
Maine Fauna A to Z: S is for Sturgeon, Scot McFarlane and John Lichter
Maine Fauna A to Z: W is for Whitetails, Nora Saks