"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 2003
"Cover Story" piece on reinventing Maine's downtowns. Embracing a simple progra, Wayne Curtis
"Cover Story" piece on the ski community at Sugarloaf. The hundreds of Mainers, Virginia Wright
Description of an 1830's cape that Steve and Marcia Crabtree bought and renovate, Bruce D. Snider
Description of a walking tour of Lewiston-Auburn. Among the places of interest, Aurelia C. Scott
Despite the heated housing market in southern and coastal Maine, most homes in t, Jeff Clark
Detailed article describing the author's vacation in the Rangeley Lakes-area hou, Elizabeth Peavey
Detailed feature article on the November casino referendum, sorting out the conf, Jeff Clark
Detailed profile of Eastport's incomparable Fourth of July celebrations., Wayne Curtis
"Dining Down East" piece on Henry and Marty, an upscale bistro on Maine Street i, Maria Padian
"Dining Down East" piece on Moody's Diner, the landmark thirties-style diner on, Brooke Dojny
"Dining Down East" piece on the Arborvine restaurant in Blue Hill, run by John a, Christine Parrish
"Dining Down East" piece on the restaurant Michaela's in Portland's Monument Squ, Michaela Cavallaro
"Dining Down East" piece on the Royal River Grillhouse at Lower Falls Landing in, Monica Wood
"Dining Down East" piece on the Twilight Cafe on Main Street in Belfast, run by, Bruce D. Snider
"Dining Down East" piece profiling Cary and Richard Hanson's restaurant "Cleonic, Brooke Dojny
"Dining Down East" piece reviewing Ribollita, an Italian trattoria on Middle Str, Debra Spark
"Dining Down East." Profile of Le Garage restaurant in Wiscasset., Virginia Wright
"Down East Bookshelf" piece on "Against the Machine: The Hidden Luddite Traditio, Richard Grant
"Down East Bookshelf" piece on Apple Valley Books in Winthrop, a small, independ, Richard Grant
"Down East Bookshelf" piece on "Frankie's Place: A Love Story," written by Jim S, Monica Wood
"Down East Bookshelf" piece on "History of Belfast in the 20th Century," which w, Richard Grant
"Down East Bookshelf" piece on "Human Sacrifice," written by James P. Moore, and, Al Diamon
"Down East Bookshelf" piece on "Slow Monkeys and Other Stories," written by Jim, Paul Doiron
"Down East Bookshelf" piece on "The Delights of Democracy: The Triumph of Americ, Jim Brunelle
"Down East Bookshelf" piece on "The Rise of the Creative Class" written by Richa, Edgar Allen Beem
"Down East Bookshelf" piece reviewing "Silas Crocket, written by Blue Hill nativ, Agnes Bushnell
"Down East Bookshelf" piece reviewing "Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Sur, Kristen Lindquist
"Down East Bookshelf" piece with a review of "Dark Harbor: Building House and Ho, James Schwartz
"Down East Bookshelf." Review of "Bold Vision: The Development of the Parks of, Al Diamon
"Down East Traveler" special 8-page section with details on downhill ski areas,
Drawing on his long career in Maine, award-winning newspaperman John Cole spells, John Cole
Excerpts from "First Light: Acadia National Park and Maine's Mount Desert Island
Feature article on former governor Angus King's laptop initiative that last fall, Jeff Clark
Feature article on Portland's off-the-peninsula residential neighborhoods, inclu, Michaela Cavallaro
Feature article on the authentic Down East appeal of the coastal village of Jone, Wayne Curtis
Feature article on the collection of islands and villages that make up Georgetow, Edgar Allen Beem
Feature article on the renovation of a farmhouse on the southern shore of Little, James Schwartz
Feature article on the town of Orono, which offers much more than just the flags, Virginia Wright
Feature article on the village of East Blue Hill, population 160. As part of Bl, Virginia Wright
For those seeking a cruise on Casco Bay, Casco Bay Lines offers the best boating, Meadow Rue Merrill
In a piece of writing never published during her lifetime, world-famous naturalist Rachel Carson, Rachel Carson
Informational piece on Maine's 64 working lighthouses, which, in addition to fun, Editors
"Inside Maine" piece on Old House Parts, an architectural salvage store with a s
"Inside Maine" piece on the internationally-known Figures of Speech puppet theat, Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine" piece on the Jordan Cliffs Trail in Acadia National Park, a chall
"Inside Maine." Profiles of Leighton Gallery in Blue Hill; OpSail Maine 2000 i, Andrew Vietze
"I Remember" column by Roger Sperber, recounting the summer of 1960 spent at Cam, Roger Sperber
"I Remember" column describing the author's search for the history of a Civil Wa, John W. Hetherington
"I Remember" column in which author Elizabeth Peavey reminisces about the sale o, Elizabeth Peavey
"I Remember" column in which author Richard Randall writes of his family's disco, Richard P. Randall