"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 2019
Peak Season, Chris Bennett, Andrew Drummond, Chris Shane, and Jamie Walter
Portraits of Courage, Rogier van Bakel
Ramble On, Genevieve Morgan
Room with a View: A Gift of Birds, Susan Hand Shetterly
Room with a view: a winter garden, Susan Hand Shetterly
Room with a View: Going to See the Ducks, Susan Hand Shetterly
Room with a View: Spring Rain, Susan Hand Shetterly
Room With a View; The Chicken Shed, Susan Hand Shetterly
Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Katy Kelleher and Ian Rothwell, illustrator
Slippery Business, Willy Blackmore
Small Farms, Big Ideas, W. G.
Snow Farm, Jaed Coffin
Snow Reservations, Will Grunewald and Jennifer Hazard
Soak it Up, The Editors
Tales of the Hunt, The Editors
The 35 Maine-iest Foods, Mark Fleming, photographer; Catrine Kelty, food stylist; and The Editors
The Great Maine Scavenger Hunt (2019), Joel Crabtree, Brian Kevin, Kendra Caruso, Jennifer Van Allen, and Virginia M. Wright
The Kids are Alright, Jillian Bedell
The Long Haul, Suzanne Rico
The Miller's Table at Maine Grains, Malcolm Bedell
The Sound of Silence, Leah Hurley
Wares: Talking Heads, Virginia M. Wright
Yes, We Can, Michaela Cavallaro
Submissions from 2018
2018 Down East Reader Photo Contest
Acadia National Park; A Peak Survival Guide: In midsummer, Maine's marquee national park is at its best- and, unignorably, its busiest. From town to trail, here's how to avoid the crowds, find the park's secret gems, and maker your Acadia adventure unforgettable, James Kaiser and Chris Bennett Photographer
Artist in Wilderland, Brian Kevin and KDB Dominguez
Art Spots, Tina Fischer, Carl Little, Brian Kevin, and Erwin Sherman Illustrator
A Town in Between, Joyce Kryszak and Adam Woodworth
A Vintage Down East Winter, Brian Kevin
A Whole Other Kettle, Carla Jean Lauter
A York County Autumn: From Farms to Footpaths, Five Ways to Love the Fall in Maine's Scenic South, Bridget M. Burns and Douglas Merriam Photographer
Barn Swallows: Some of Maine's liveliest spots for dinner and drinks these days are down on the farm and for some Maine farmers, the gastronomic "barn social" is a key part of a new agrarian model, Willy Blackmore and Molly Haley
Best of Maine: Thousands of down East Readers Took Our Annual Poll To Tell Us What They Love Most In Maine-- From Landmarks to Lobster Shacks to Libraries. Then We Chimed in With a Few Picks of Our Own. So How'd Your Favorites Do?, Kathleen Fleury, Will Grunewald, Brian Kevin, Joe Ricchio, Sarah Stebbins, and Virginia M. Wright
Business; Blueberry Blues: Growers leave fields unharvested as they confront plummeting prices and a glut of frozen berries, Joyce Kryszak
Deep Space, Benjamin Williamson Illustrator and Brian Kevin
Dooryard; Home; Living Longer; Architect Eric Reinholdt updates an ancient house style for a difficult building lot and a tight budget, Virginia M. Wright and Meredith Perdue Photographer
Dooryard; Making It In Maine; Forging a Head: Bit by bit, South Portland's Brant & Cochran is bring back the Maine ax., Jaed Coffin and John Benford
Dooryard; Making It In Maine; Working Like Dogs: With social and environmental responsibility as a compass, Planet Dog aims to lead the pack into a dog-friendlier world, Virginia M. Wright and Cait Bourgault Photographer
Dooryard; My Maine; Oh, to Live on Cheddar Bay, Sarah Cahalan
Dooryard; Recipe; Rise and Shine; While away the most undemanding holiday of the year by baking bread, Annemarie Ahearn
Dooryard; Room With a View, Franklin Burroughs
Essay; Dawnland, Porter Fox
Favorite Places; Back Nine, Falmouth Country Club, Shawn Warren and Benajmin Williamson Photographer
Food and Drink; Alley Eats; Bowled Over, Joe Ricchio
Food and Drink; Brewing; Home Boys, Joel Crabtree and Mark McCall Photographer
Food and Drink; Charcuterie; The Cure, Will Grunewald
