"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 2018
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
Food and Drink; Dining; Ada's Kitchen, Joe Ricchio
Food and Drink; Dining; Drifters Wife, Joe Ricchio
Food and Drink; Dining; Izakaya Minato, Joe Ricchio and Douglas Merriam Photographer
Food and Drink; Dining; Novio's, Joe Ricchio
Food and Drink; Dining; Pearl Kennebunk, Joe Ricchio and Stacey Cramp Photographer
Food and Drink; Dining; Taverna Khione, Joe Ricchio
Food and Drink; Dining; The Salty Owl, Willy Blackmore and Douglas Merriam
Food and Drink; Harvest; Far From the Tree, Desi Isaacson and Michael D. Wilson Photographer
Food and Drink; Holiday Feast; A Whole Latke Love, Will Grunewald
Food and Drink; Just Add Water; Roughing It?, Will Grunewald
Food and Drink; Lunchtime; Toasts of the Town, Will Grunewald and Benajmin Williamson Photographer
Food and Drink; Provisions; Country Fare, Joel Crabtree
Food and Drink; Q & A; Juggling Act, Joe Ricchio and Michael D. Wilson
Food and Drink; Recipe; Flatfish Feast, Annemarie Ahearn
Food and Drink; Recipe; Harvest for the Holidays, Annemarie Ahearn
Food and Drink; Restaurant Biz; Kittery or Bust, Will Grunewald
Food and Drink; Roll Call; Is This a Lobster Roll, Joe Ricchio and Michael D. Wilson Photographer
Food and Drink; Roundup; Grand Reopening!: Three classic Maine eateries are back in business, Will Grunewald
Food and Drink; Speedy Delivery; Air Bug: Lobster rolls anywhere, anytime, Joe Ricchio
Food and Drink; Summer Eats; Dog Almighty!, Cody Barry Photographer and Desi Isaacson
Food and Drink; Swig; Belly Warmer, Will Grunewald
Food and Drink; Swigs; Reign of Terroir, Joe Ricchio
Food and Drink; Tasting Notes; Creature Features, Joe Ricchio
Food and Drink; We All Scream: For super creamy strawberry ice cream!, Annemarie Ahearn
Food & Drink; Reservation Desk: The Hotline
Good Things From Maine: Addie Peet Design, Virginia M. Wright
Good Things From Maine; Body Care; From a Cold Climate, Balms for Thirsty Skin
Good Things From Maine; Brose; Uptown 'Bunk, Tina Fischer
Good Things From Maine; Browse; Bath Shopping, Meadow Rue Merrill
Good Things From Maine; Browse; Foreside Finds: Kittery's peppy pocket neighborhood has shops as eclectic as its chow, Virginia M. Wright
Good Things From Maine; Browse; Tresure Hunting
Good Things From Maine; Collecting; Hand Me Downs, Virginia M. Wright
Good Things From Maine; Collecting; House of Glass, Virginia M. Wright
Good Things From Maine; Craft; Avena Botanicals, Nicole Wolf Photographer and Jesse Ellison
Good Things From Maine; Craft; Loten Art Lighting: Montville
Good Things From Maine; Craft; Scythe Supply: Perry, Michael D. Wilson Photographer
Good Things From Maine; Craft; Theriault Flies: Stacyville, Ron Joseph and Cody Barry Photographer
Good Things From Maine; Discoveries; Four Favorite Things, Jillian Bedell, Michaela Cavallaro, Joe Ricchio, and Jesse Ellison
Good Things From Maine; Four Favorite Things, Jesse Ellison, Joe Ricchio, Joyce Kryszak, and Tina Fisher