"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 1997
Description of the shadbush, which comprises the majority of underbrush in Maine, Richard Grant
Description of travels with Maine Guide Don Bryant and his hunting party, and th, Ken Textor
Description of various winter attractions along the midcoast, including: Camden
Descriptions of 28 Maine sites for downhill and Nordic cross-country skiing.
Descriptions of 31 holiday gift stores in Maine and holiday celebrations in 15 t
Descriptions of twenty parks and preserves that display fine autumn foliage: Mou
Despite years of effort to bring back sea-run fish to the Kennebec River, not on
Detailed desciption of the 200 paintings of Maine given to the Portland Museum o, Elizabeth Peavey
Detailed description of Merrill Auditorium in Portland, vastly improved -- parti, Jeff Clark
Detailed description of winter life in Portland, including hotels, music, "the u
Detailed descriptions of the Bowdoin Mill on the Androscoggin River, abandoned i
Detailed profile of Doug Kneelend of Lincoln News and one of the nation's most p, Christopher Corbett
Detailed profile of the steamboat "Katahdin. Captained by Ron Macomber, the ste, Andrew Vietze
"Dining Down East" piece on the Cafe Miranda in Rockland, run by Kerry Altiero,, Scott Sutherland
"Dining Down East" piece on the Center Lovell Inn, owned by Janice and Richard C, Elizabeth Peavey
"Dining Down East" piece on the Pilots Grill, a Bangor dinner house known for it, Elizabeth Peavey
"Down East Bookshelf" piece featuring a book review of "A Birder's Guide to Main, Robert Kimber
"Down East Bookshelf" piece on "My Love Affair with the State of Maine," by Scot, Elizabeth Peavey
"Down East Bookshelf" piece on this year's travel brochures from the chambers of, Sarah Goodyear
"Down East Bookshelf" piece reviewing the historical mystery novel "A Brother's, Sarah Goodyear
"Down East Bookshelf" piece reviewing the mystery "Undone," written by Michael K, Paul Mann
"Down East Bookshelf" review of "The Raven," by Peter Landesman. This novel, pu, Agnes Bushnell
Ellen MacDonald Ward writes about how the owners of the many bed-and-breakfasts, Ellen MacDonald Ward
Essay on the "magic" ending of a Maine summer., Richard Grant
From the time Pennsylvania photographer Peter Ralston first visited longtime fri, Peter Ralston
Historical photo and brief essay on the Fore River and the old Portland Bridge,, Ellen MacDonald Ward
In 1897, Maine music lovers were treated to a premiere of "The Stars and Stripes, Ellen MacDonald Ward
"Inside Bar Harbor" guide for visitors, with descriptions of local art galleries
"Inside Maine." Description of Micmac Farm in Machiasport.
"Inside Maine." Detailed profiles of Northeast Historic Film in Bucksport, whic, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece about Admiral's Quarters in Boothbay Harbor, a bed-and-brea
"Inside Maine" piece about the Birches, a well-known Rockport sporting camp that, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece containing a brief review of Lemon Tree Restaurant on Cente, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece describing Tabitha Jean's Restaurant in Portland, located o, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on a referral service offered by many local chambers of com, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on Bangor's Blue Ox baseball team, which is going into its, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on Big Daddy's Ice Cream in Wells, which is something of a, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on Bintliff's American Grill in Portland. A name change to, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on Blackwoods Campground in Acadia National Park, noting th, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on Cathedral Pines, one of the state's most scenic campgrou, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on clam digging, noting that the state allows anyone to tak, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on Dunn and Powell Books in Bar Harbor. Owner Steve Powell
"Inside Maine" piece on Far Horizons in South Freeport, which is offering a new, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on gold mining in Maine, noting that legend has it that the, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on high tea in the gardens at the Colonel Black Mansion, El, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on Maine Bound's Outdoor Equipment Rental Center at the Uni, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on Moose Point State Park, just off Route 1 beyond Belfast,, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on nature preserves in the Boothbay area that are managed b, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on Northern Outdoors, a company in The Forks which rents sn, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on Ocean Wood campground in Birch Harbor, run by Michael Br, Andrew Vietze