"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 1998
Photoessay, with detailed caption, on Petit Manan Light, Maine's second-tallest, Thomas Mark Szelog
Photoessay, with ten photos, on the Fryeburg Fair., Tonee Harbert
Profile of Brunswick daffodil gardener Dr. Russell Pinfold, who sold to Bob and, Jane Lamb
Profile of Cape Elizabeth couple Dick and Helen Mainville, amateur competitive b, Sarah Goodyear
Profile of iceboater Bob Ifill, who sails Lake Maranacook in Readfield., John McPhedran
Profile of Jan and Elizabeth Pierson of Harpswell, authors of "A Birder's Guide, Edgar Allen Beem
Profile of Joan Welsh, president of the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in, Patrick Morris
Profile of Maine inland watercolor artist Mimi Gregoire Carpenter, who focuses o, Elizabeth Peavey
Profile of Mulberry Cottage and of its owners, Mary Alice Reilley and Lee Wilson, Scott Sutherland
Profile of Old Town Canoe, which dates to 1898 and is the world leader in its fi, Jeff Clark
Profile of Portland municipal organist Ray Cornils, who plays one of only two mu, Meadow Rue Merrill
Profile of retired cookbook writer Marjorie Standish, author of "Keep Cooking th, Ellen MacDonald Ward
Profile of Slate's restaurant in Hallowell and its owner, Wendy Larson., Scott Sutherland
Profile of the huge, new globe of DeLorme Mapping in Yarmouth., Andrew Vietze
Restaurant review of Ricetta's in South Portland, which sells the finest pizza i, Sarah Goodyear
Review of A Place in Mind, by Sydney Lee, which follows the relationship of two, Paul Guernsey
Review of Border Line, a murder mystery set in Maine, by Gerry Boyle of China, n, Agnes Bushell
Review of Maine cookbooks, including Chowders Soups & Stews and Seafood, both by, Cynthia Hacinli
Review of "Maine Sea Fisheries" by Wayne M. O'Leary, and discussion of related M, Jerry Fraser
Review of the guidebook "Maine Handbook," by Kathy Brandes, which is more compre, Edgar Allen Beem
Review of The Olde House restaurant in Raymond, run by Jini and Bob Fitzgibbons., Sarah Goodyear
Review of the Squire Tarbox Inn restaurant on Westport Island, owned by Karen an, Sarah Goodyear
Rockwell Kent's painting, "Island Village, Coast of Maine," which shows Monhegan
Rodney Buswell, owner of the Peavey Manufacturing Company in East Eddington (on
Ron Forest, of Ron Forest & Sons Fence Company in Scarborough, has a reputation, Jeff Clark
"Room With A View." Column on a white lobster caught in Raymond, and on Mainers, Caskie Stinnett
"Room With A View." Column on restaurants in Maine and the Dolphin Marina resta, Caskie Stinnett
"Room With A View." Column on spring in Maine., Caskie Stinnett
"Room With A View." Column on the large amount of literature on Maine lobster r, Caskie Stinnett
Sarah Hennessey's restaurant in Wiscasset, Sarah's Cafe, has a close relationshi, Scott Sutherland
St. Anthony's Franciscan Monastery has run a resort in Kennebunk for fifty years, Patrick Morris
Steve Chappell, a building contractor for twenty-five years, teaches timber fram
Stonecroft in Falmouth Foreside, the most expensive home for sale in Maine, is t, Elizabeth Peavey
Sunkhaze Meadow in Milford, where beavers outnumber people, is the least-known o, Sarah Scott
Ten letters to the editor on the "Where in Maine?" photograph of York Beach in t, Fredson T. Bowers, Robert A. Jennings, Robert Johnson, Sally Olson, Mrs Dale J. Grygutos, Larraine McKee, Julie and Steve Twombly, Joann Swichi Page, Susan T. White, and Karen Ahern
Tens of thousands climb Mount Katahdin every year, but few try in the winter. D, Andrew Vietze
The 1990 referendum which, when passed, made Sunday shopping legal in Maine, dre, Jeff Clark
The Can-Am Crown Sled Dog Races make up Fort Kent's busiest weekend. The town a, Elizabeth Peavey
The first retrospective of Maine coast painter Stephen Etnier, 1903-84, is under, Edgar Allen Beem
The gray jay, a common bird in the North Woods, has little fear of humans. Deta, Kristen Lindquist
The Lighthouse Museum at Grand Army Hall in Rockland holds the nation's largest, James P. Brown
"The Maine Viewpoint." Augusta Kennebec Journal editorial on the benefits of to
"The Maine Viewpoint." Bangor Daily News editorial calling for the Maine east-w
"The Maine Viewpoint." Bangor Daily News editorial calling on Maine to follow t
"The Maine Viewpoint." Bangor Daily News editorial comparing Nebraska's spendin
"The Maine Viewpoint." Bangor Daily News editorial. Gov. King's view of the ri
"The Maine Viewpoint." Bangor Daily News editorial on the proposal of the Natio
"The Maine Viewpoint." Bangor Daily News editorial on the recent physician-assi
"The Maine Viewpoint." Biddeford Journal Tribune editorial on the auctioning of
"The Maine Viewpoint." Biddeford Journal Tribune editorial on the potential cos