"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 1999
"Briefly Noted." Short reviews of "Mollie Pier or The Underground Adventures of
"Briefly Noted." Short reviews of "Triple Witch" by Eastport writer Sarah Grave
Brief notes on Lewiston-Auburn made products and those who make them, including:, Leslie Cote Kehoe and Jason Stone
Cartoonist Jon Bogdonove of Friendship drew the very profitable death of Superma, Edgar Allen Beem
Charts profiling all 16 Maine counties, 25 Maine retirement communities, and cri
Column on the author's father, who is from Scarborough, and his Alzheimer's dise, Bob Noonan
Column on winter life in Maine., Richard Grant
Community radio station WERU-FM in East Orland, staffed with 100 volunteers, cap, Jeff Clark
Description of a trip to Attean Lake Lodge, near Jackman, a remote site accessib, Paul Guernsey
Description of moose-watching near Rumford and Byron., David Morine
Description of Portland Symphony Orchestra's upcoming "Magic of Christmas" conce
Description of the exhibit "Camera Obscura" at the Children's Museum of Maine in, Laura Conaway
Description of the South Solon Meetinghouse, the site of a remarkable amount of, Elizabeth Peavey
Description of trail-grooming by Presque Isle Snowmobile Club trail master Greg, Ken Textor
Descriptions of 13 Maine garden shows.
Descriptions of 36 things to do in Bar Harbor., Powell Boyer
Despite warnings about mercury-laden trout, anglers are pouring into Maine camps, Jeff Clark
Detailed description of architect John Edward Gillespie's Rockport Harbo house., Robert Post
Detailed description of Prouts Neck, home of the Winslow Homer family., Paul Mann
Detailed description of Sears Island off Searsport and the road that crosses it., Paul Doiron
Detailed description of the nature camp on Hog Island, off Bremen, and the Natio, Elizabeth Peavey
Detailed description of the Portland Boxing Club and several of its fighters. T, Sarah Goodyear
Detailed description of the town of Walpole., Bob Roundy
Detailed excerpt on lauching the USS Donald Cook from the book "The Yard: Buildi, Michael S. Sanders
Detailed explanation of Rite Aid's decision to locate a pharmacy in Camden., Jeff Clark
Detailed history and description of Lewiston's magnificent Saints Peter and Pau, Ellen MacDonald Ward
Detailed history of Central Maine Power Company.
Detailed history of the village of Flagstaff, destroyed in 1949 to create Flagst, Edgar Allen Beem
Detailed profile of Deborah Palman, Maine Warden of the Year., Paul Doiron
Detailed profile of Fryeburg Academy, one of the most successful private schools, Jeff Clark
Detailed profile of Northeast Harbor author Marguerite Yourcenar, who is better, Agnes Bushell
Detailed profile of the Decorum store in Portland, which provides home renovator, Andrew Vietze
Detailed profile of the town of Dover-Foxcroft.
Detailed profiles of Cape Porpoise, which is the most unspoiled harbor in southe, Paul Mann
Detailed review of the paintings of John Marin, who summered in West Point, Main, Edgar Allen Beem
"Dining Down East." Detailed review of Cook's Lobster House on Bailey Island, o, Laura Conaway
"Dining Down East" piece about Georgetown's Free Meetinghouse restaurant and Che, Meadow Rue Merrill
"Dining Down East." Profile of Alyson Cummings' new Star Fish Grill in Brunswic, Paul Doiron
"Dining Down East." Restaurant review of Bella Cucina in Portland, and summary, Paul Doiron
"Dining Down East." Review of 15 Independence restaurant in Freeport, owned by, Agnes Bushell
"Down East Bookshelf." Book review of "Crossing the Field" and "Where the Deer, Meadow Rue Merrill
"Down East Bookshelf." Book review of "Evening" by Susan Minot., Sarah Goodyear
"Down East Bookshelf." Book review of "In the Maine Woods: An Insider's Guide t, Andrew K. Weegar
"Down East Bookshelf." Book review of "N.C. Wyeth: A Biography" by David Michae, Edgar Allen Beem
"Down East Bookshelf." Book review of "The Hungry Ocean" by Maine swordboat cap
"Down East Bookshelf." Book review of "The Magic Ship" by Sandra Paretti, set i, Ellen MacDonald Ward
"Down East Bookshelf." Brief book reviews of "Desire Lines" by Christina Baker
"Down East Bookshelf." Brief book reviews of "Portland & Vicinity Street Atlas"
"Down East Bookshelf." Reviews of three novels set in Maine: "Riptide" by Doug, Agnes Bushell
"Down East Environmental Award." Kent Wommack, executive director of the Maine, Jeff Clark