"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 2012
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1964 photo of Senator Margaret Chase Smith and, Will Bleakley
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a photo from the 1930s of several buildings on B, Will Bleakley
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a photo of Maine's exhibit at the 1897 Sportsmen, Ellen MacDonald Ward
While rebuilding a stone wall in a clearing in Weld, the author realized that an, Bernd Heinrich
Submissions from 2011
A collection of Down East "comfort food" meals and the restaurants that serve th, Kathleen Fleury
A collection of observations on the "essence of Maine" from summer, year-round,, Edgar Allen Beem
A description of a midnight, full-moon visit to witness the two-week spawning cy, Elizabeth Peavey
A description of Maine's summer camps and a history of the industry, with a list, Meadow Rue Merrill
A description of the author's experiences while selling alongside a friend at Ma, Elizabeth Peavey
A description of the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival in Dover-Foxcroft and recent med, Kathleen Fleury
A description of the stories told by the eleven panels that compose the mural ca, of Down East Editors
A guide to eight galleries and museums in southern Maine with contemporary art c, Edgar Allen Beem
A guide to fifteen restaurants in snow country, with their signature dishes., Kathleen Fleury
A look at the historic villages along the Sandy River, downstream from Rangeley,, Michael D. Burke
Although Rockport photographer Joyce Tenneson's portraits of famous individuals, Deborah Weisgall
An article describing a day in the life of Sharon Daley, a nurse who is the only, Amy Sutherland
An article describing a day in the life of three Maine large animal veterinarian, Virginia M. Wright
Article on safety concerns about smart meters, wireless meter reading systems th, Edgar Allen Beem
A special, in-depth report on wind power in Maine, including views for and again, Robert Kimber, Virginia M. Wright, and Joshua Moore
A special report marking the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War and, Colin Woodward
A thirty-year resident of Portland and her husband "visit" the city as sightseer, Elizabeth Peavey
At the Charleston Correctional Facility, a minimum-security prison between Bango, Susan Hand Shetterly
"Bar Harbor: Your Way" article that highlights local activities, hotels, and des, Kathleen Wright Fleury and M Virginia
"Best of Maine 2011," with readers' and editors' recommendations for the best pl, of Down East Editors
Completed in 2010 after four years of work, "The Ultimate Maine Cottage", with a, Joshua F. Moore
Cornish has transformed from a farming and mill community into a charming destin, Virginia M. Wright
Description of the author's trips to view petroglyphs near Grand Lake Stream and, Michael D. Burke
Descriptions of 12 of Maine's best lakes for swimming: Cross Lake in Square Lake, Emily Glatz Fontaine
Donn Fendler, author of the classic book, Lost on a Mountain in Maine, has teame, Andrew Vietze
"Fall Flavors" special section with cookbook excerpts including recipes, a list, of Down East Editors
Feature on the village of Cutler, a Washington county community with strong ties, Virginia M. Wright
For the past fourteen years, David and Alison Berry and their "vegetable boat" h, Susan Sherrill Axelrod
Founded in Montville in 1950, the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts has become, Kim Ridley
Gyotaku, a Japanese fish printing technique, originally utilized by nineteenth c, Cynthia Anderson
History of Edgecomb Potters, founded in 1976 by Richard and Christine Hilton. De, Virginia M. Wright
"Home & Garden 2011" annual guide section that includes articles about planning, of Down East Editors
"How to" article about creating a showcase garden. Includes an interview with Ro, Aurelia C. Scott
"How to Piece" on how to create a community garden. Includes an interview with M, Aurelia C. Scott
Illustrations and descriptions of the "10 birds Mainers love best", created thro, Allison Wells Childs and Jeffrey
"Inside Maine" dining piece on Emilitsa, a Greek restaurant in Portland owned by, Michaela Cavallaro
"Inside Maine" piece about seven people who have created businesses and careers, Virginia M. Wright
"Inside Maine" piece on Petite Jacqueline, a new bistro on Portland's Longfellow, Michaela Cavallaro
Interview with Martha Stewart that highlights the impact of her promotion of sma, John Golden
Maine has been a pioneer in environmental studies since the late 1960s, a niche, Beth Brosnan
Mount Vernon is a "quirky" and "eclectic" place long appreciated by a variety of, Virginia M. Wright
Photographer David McLain was on assignment for National Geographic in Greenland, Andrew Vietze
Portland's Abyssinian Meeting House, built by a group of free black citizens in, Monica Wood
Profile of Eric Hopkins, 60, well-known painter and glass artist with deep roots, Carl Little
Profile of Luke Seitz of Falmouth, a seventeen-year-old birder and self-taught a, Kim Ridley
Profiles of Clayton and Hazel Sinclair, the operators of Rock Rest, a home-based, Deborah McDermott