"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 2009
A sample of chocolates from 14 Maine chocolatiers., Kathleen Fleury
"A selected history of sustainability in Maine," from 1952, when Helen and Scott, Joshua F. Moore
A special section on a Maine education, with articles on why the state's communi, of Down East Editors
A special section on autumn trips in Maine, with articles on transportation opti, of Down East Editors
A special section on Rockland, a blue-collar town that has become a sophisticate, of Down East Editors
A "time travel" guide into the past, including the Maine Ice Age Trail, Maine ca, of Down East Editors
"Best of Maine 2009," with recommendations for travel and adventure, food and dr, Joshua F. Moore
Bill Mackowski, of Milford, a former wildlife biologist, sees snowshoes as imbue, Wayne Curtis
Camp Sunshine in Casco, a year-round retreat for children with life-threatening, Cynthia Anderson
Conservative activist turned conservationist Linda Bean, the granddaughter of th, Colin Woodard
Descriptions of four weddings that took place in each of Maine's four seasons, w, of Down East Editors
Despite the stereotype of Mainers, only 64 percent of residents were born here a, Colin Woodard
"Down East how to" piece on dealing with unwelcome wild animals, with an intervi, Aurelia C. Scott
Down East "how to" piece with an interview with therapeutic riding instructor an, Meadow Rue Merrill
Edgar Allen Beem examines why painter Andrew Wyeth was revered by the general pu, Edgar Allen Beem
Educator, botanist, and photographer Wanda Garland brings Maine's native wildflo, Kim Ridley
Frye Island in Sebago Lake, which seceded from Standish 11 years ago, shuts down, Virginia Wright
Gary Freeman, 61, bought a mine in Mount Mica, near Paris Hill, believed to have, Virginia Wright
"Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey is a Turner native who now has an addition, Kathleen Fleury
Images from "Ruin: Photographs of a Vanishing America," by Brian Vanden Brink, s, Brian Vanden Brink
In an excerpt from his new book, "Conditions May Vary," former Maine state clima, Gregory A. Zielinski
In an unusual coincidence, the leadership of almost every Maine art institution, Edgar Allen Beem
"Inside Maine" dining piece on the transformation of the Chestnut Street United, Kathleen Fleury
Jane Lamb, who began teaching at Flagstaff High School in 1947, recalls her time, Jane Lamb
Last year, the state of Maine announced a grant that will allow the Department o, Andrew Vietze
Maine author Monica Wood rides along with Sergeant Matthew Bard of the Fairfield, Monica Wood
Maine's Land Use Regulation Commission is expected to approve Plum Creek's massi, Robert Kimber
Mark Swann is director of the social service agency Preble Street in Portland. H, Monica Wood
Mary Knox Wells spent her 1970s girlhood living in a house adjoining the old Wal, Vicki Doudera
Official program of the Harvest on the Harbor, presented by the Greater Portland, Mark Fleming, Wayne Curtis, and Rowan Jacobsen
Portland has only one roller rink, Happy Wheels Skate Center, a relic of the cha, Katie Fuller
Portland's Center for Grieving Children, opened in 1988 by Bill Hemmens, was at, Joshua F. Moore
Profile of Auburn native Lenny Breau, a sometimes brilliant jazz guitarist whose, Al Diamon
Profile of Damariscotta artist Maurice "Jake" Day, who insisted a New England wh, Andrew Vietze
Profile of Leo Brooks, whose art career started at age 60 and ended with his dea, Edgar Allen Beem
Profile of novelist and biographer Roxana Robinson, who lives in Manhattan, but, Anna Kasabian
"Retiring in Maine," a special guide that covers Maine as a retirement state; ho, of Down East Editors
Review of Lily's Cafe and Wine Bar in Stonington, an antiques store, art gallery, Brooke Dojny
Roger Doiron turned his Scarborough lawn into a vegetable garden and founded the, Michaela Cavallaro
Sears Island in Penobscot Bay, the largest undeveloped island on the Eastern Sea, Jeff Clark
Seventh-graders at Troy A. Howard Middle School in Belfast take part in the eigh, Kathleen Fleury
Since the 1997 opening of the Coastal Connector near Topsham, the town has trans, Virginia Wright
Singer Carol Noonan and her husband Jeff Flagg opened the Stone Mountain Arts Ce, Beth Brosnan
Special section on daytrips to Ogunquit, Biddeford, Freeport, Bridgton, Hallowel, of Down East Editors
Special section on relocating to Maine, with an excerpt from "Maine Street: Face, of Down East Editors
Special supplement on Freeport, Maine's shopping destination, which continues to, of Down East Editors
Spurred by Scotsman Andrew Stewart's revival of the Hope General Store, the slee, Virginia Wright
Sweetgrass Farm Winery and Distillery on the Medomak River in Union was started, Kathleen Fleury
The author flies with an Owls Head Transportation Museum volunteer in a 1941 Ste, Elizabeth Peavey
The Butterfly & Insect Museum at Maine Art Glass in Lisbon Falls, founded by Jim, Meadow Rue Merrill