Down East magazine, has been publishing since August 1954, and continues as one of Maine's most prominent monthly magazines. Their web site's history page provides the following description:

"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.

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Submissions from 2017

 

From Our Archives. November 1977: The Young King, [Editorial staff writers]

 

From Our Archives. November 1985: The Audacity of Rope, [Editorial staff writers]

 

From Our Archives. September 1969: Reid All About It, [Editorial staff writers]

 

Full-Speed Ahead: A smart recession-era move favoring new boats and innovation has made Sabre Yachts an industry leader, John Grossmann and Brian Fitzgerald Photographer

 

Garden Party, Sarah Stebbins; Douglas Merriam, photographer; and Madeline Macomber, styler

 

Guide. Art: Art Nouveau, Will Grunewald

 

Guide; Art; Collector's Items: Abbie Read has a passion for found objects-- and books and paper and paintings. This month she's bringing together her eclectic interests in a years-in-making installation in Brunswick., Joel Crabtree

 

Guide. Art: Cover Story, Mira Ptacin

 

Guide. Book: Boys of Summer, Will Grunewald

 

Guide; Books; Hometown Hero: Superman protects Metropolis, Batman fights for Gotham- but who's watching over Maine, Joel Crabtree

 

Guide. Books: Put Maine on Your Coffee Table, Jesse Ellison

 

Guide. Dining: 18 Central Oyster Bar & Grill, Joe Ricchio and Douglas Merriam, photographer

 

Guide; Dining; Biscuits & Company: Biddeford, Will Grunewald and Greta Rybus Photographer

 

Guide. Dining: Brahma Grill, Joe Ricchio and Douglas Merriam, photographer

 

Guide. Dining: Coda, Virginia M. Wright and Michael D. Wilson, photographer

 

Guide; Dining; Cong Tu Bot, Joe Ricchio

 

Guide; Dining; Cong Tu Bot, Joe Ricchio and Brian Fitzgerald Photographer

 

Guide; Dining; Mason's Brewing Company: Brewer, Brian Kevin and Mark McCall Photographer

 

Guide; Dining; Musette: Kennebunkport, Joe Ricchio and Douglas Merriam Photographer

 

Guide. Dining: Oxford House Inn, Joel Ricchio and Douglas Merriam, photographer

 

Guide. Dining: Salt Pine Social, Joel Ricchio and Douglas Merriam, photographer

 

Guide; Dining; Swig of the Month; Fernet Michaud: Liquid Riot Bottling Co., Benjamin Williamson

 

Guide. Dining: Tipo, Joe Ricchio and Douglas Merriam Photographer

 

Guide. Dining: Tulsi North, Joe Ricchio and Douglas Merriam, photographer

 

Guide; Event; Midnight Menagerie: At a natural history museum in Hinckley, the living meet the dead with the lights turned out, Joel Crabtree

 

Guide. Events: June’s Blooms, Down East staff writers

 

Guide. Events: School's (Not) Out for Summer, Will Grunewald

 

Guide. Events: Thrills and Chills, Down East staff writers

 

Guide. Goods: Martha's Maine Must-Haves, Martha Stewart

 

Guide; Horse of a Different Color: Howl Mouth is the newest releast from Portland's genre-blurring trio Tall Horse, a Maine band you should know., Brian Kevin

 

Guide; Making it in Maine; Hangin' with Mr. Cooper: Portland Barrel Company's Ed Lutjens is New England's only cask maker and he's anxious to roll out more barrels., Tina Fischer and John Benford Photographer

 

Guide. Music: American Classic, Will Grunewald

 

Guide; Music; Hanukkah Hootenanny: A Portland-based klezmer band hammers out a toe-tapping tradition, Joel Crabtree

 

Guide. Music: Lady Lamb the Mystery, Will Grunewald

 

Guide. Music: No Second Fiddle, Joel Crabtree

 

Guide. Music: Reclaimed Timbre, Nick Schroeder

 

Guide. Reads: Gonzo Journal List, Nick Schroeder

 

Guide; Swig of the Month; Hardshore Distilling Company

 

Guide. Theater: Culture Clash, Sara Anne Donnelly

 

Guide. Theater: Fringe Benefits, Nick Schroeder

 

Guide. Theater: Unlikely Impresarios, Will Grunewald

 

Guide: What to Do in Maine This Month, Virginia M. Wright and Douglas Merriam Photographer

 

Healers in the Sky, Jesse Ellison and Gabe Souza, photographer

 

Hoppy Days Are Here Again! Harvest season is the most wonderful time of year for beer lovers, Will Grunewald

 

Keepers of the Trail, Kathryn Miles and Michael D. Wilson Photographer

 

Labor of Love: A father designs an accessible, energy-efficient home for his quadriplegic daughter, Sara Anne Donnelly and Jared Kuzia Photographer

 

Liberty's Prison: In Maine's maximum security lockup, Warden Randall Liberty is offering inmates gardens, therapy, and a sense of purpose, Jesse Ellison and Molly Haley Photographer

 

LOL #207EVA, Virginia M. Wright

 

Maine's 30 Greatest Burgers: From mom-and-pop diners, hole-in-the-wall pubs, and fancy-pants kitchens all across the state. These are the juicy little beauties most worth road tripping for. Did you favorites make the list?, Joe Ricchio

 

Making Art, Making a Life: Midcoast "nature people" Kate and Jonathan Mess push boundaries in the gallery, keep it real at home, Edgar Allen Beem and Molly Haley Photographer