"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 2014
The Lost Tribe, V. M. W.
The Rarest of Them All, Virginia M. Wright
The Survivors, Brian Kevin
They Know the Ropes, Rob Sneddon
This is My Town, Michaela Cavallaro
Tied up in Knots, Thomas Urquhart
Tour de Fairfield, Brian Kevin
Trophy? What Trophy?, V. M. W.
Unquenchable Spirit, Edgar Allen Beem
Unshaken, Monica Wood
Up to Camp, Jon Reiner
Village in the Woods, Virginia M. Wright
Welcome to the Circus That is Black Bear Politics in Maine, Brian Kevin
What's in a Name, David Yellen and Michael Erard
Where is the Resort?, Jeff Clark
Why We Hunt, various authors
Winter at the Edge of America, Laurence Parent
Submissions from 2013
A Better Brew, Will Bleakley
A Fish Story, Virginia M. Wright
All Aglow., Laura Serino
All-Terrain Art., Virginia M. Wright
A New Twist on Old Things., Brooke Williams
An Eye for Detail., Brian Kevin
Appointment Viewing., Virginia M. Wright
A Public Affair., Meadow Rue Merrill
A Stunning First Impression., Laura Serino
A Summer Place, Virginia M. Wright
A Town for All Seasons., Michael D. Burke
A Whale of a Time., Will Bleakley
Back to the Land 2.0., Kim Ridley
Battle on the Barrens., Richard W. Thackeray Jr.
Belles of the Ball., Virginia M. Wright
Best of Maine 2013, Down East editors
Bite, Dine, Feed, Wolf…Eat Your Way Through Maine's Hottest Dining Trends., Caroline Praderio
Blueberry Rakers., Richard Russo
Boothbay Approves., Will Bleakley
Branded., Virginia M. Wright
Building a Better Brew., Brian Kevin
Bullwinkle's., Nancy Heiser
Casco Bay Blight., Edgar Allen Beem
Cavity Crusaders., Will Bleakley
"Chefs Today Are Nothing But a Bunch of Punks.", Ralph Raffio
Colby's $100 Million Masterpiece., Deborah Weisgall
Color Show., Laura Serino
Cowgirl., Joshua Bodwell