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

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

Mess with a Classic: Orthodoxy isn't the point when world-class performers play Mount Vernon's Independence Day pops concert, Will Grunewald

Mother Hen, Virginia M. Wright and Greta Rybus, photographer

Mountain Maven, Joel Crabtree

Mountain Maven, Joel Crabtree

Mountain Maven: Aislinn Sarnacki's Climb from Copy Desk Intern to Maine Trail Guru, Joel Crabtree

North by East. A Festival for the Birds, Joel Crabtree

North by East; All Hail the Curry King! Arif Shaikh has designs on a midcoast curry empire., Will Grunewald

North By East; Another Tempestuous Term: Already Contending with a Warming Gulf of Maine and Declining Fisheries, Maine's Sea Grant Program, Responsible for Delivering Practical Scientific Know-How to Coastal Fishing Communities, Now Faces an Existential Political Threat- And Not for the First Time in its Long History, Will Grunewald

North by East. Aprés Ski?, Will Grunewald

North by East. At the Helm, Martha Stewart and Maria Simpson

North by East. Aw, Shucks!, Down East staff writers

North by East. Ball Canto, Rob Sneddon

North by East. Boy Oh Boycott: Checking Our Ego about an Embargo of Dirigo, Brian Kevin

North by East. Cabin Fever, Sarah Stebbins

North by East. Don't Hate the Player: Maine's Hardest-Working Rapper Levels Up on Your Smartphone or Tablet, Brian Kevin

North by East; Down East Dispatches

North by East; Down East Dispatches