"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 2019
A Kitchenware-lover's Banquet, Amy Sutherland
An Island Supper, Sam Sifton
Antiques Roadshow, Virgina M. Wright
Art: In the Moment, Will Grunewald
A Thomaston Turnaround?, Malcolm Bedell
Cage Fight, Joel Crabtree
Captain Harpswell, Brian Kevin
Charting a New Course, Philip Kiefer
Cookbook: Bisquey Move, Will Grunewald
Cookies for a Cause, Arielle Greenberg
Dining: Elda, Joe Ricchio
Dining: Flux, Mattie John Bamman
Dining: The Mountain Room, Joe Ricchio
Drinking Buddies, Jesse Ellison
Even Flow, Jamie Lovley
Fancy Feast, Will Grunewald
Figure Study, Erin Stewart Brown and Erin Little Photographer
Food and Drink; Spirits: Still Life, Joel Crabtree
Forest Ave Food Crawl, W. G.
Free the Udders!, Virgina M. Wright
Full Plates, Genevieve Beaudoin
George H.W. Bush, 1924-2018, various authors
Good things from Maine: Big Foot, Virginia Wright
Good Things from Maine: Carry On, Virgina M. Wright
Good Things From Maine; Craft; Glass Act, Molly Haley Photographer and Jesse Ellison
Good things from Maine : Marilyn Robertson, Caitlin Gilmet
Good Things from Maine: Opening Day, Virgina M. Wright
Good Things from Maine: Sprig Woodwork, Virgina M. Wright
Good Things from Maine: The Shape of Light, Tina Fischer
Handle with Care, Brian Kevin
House Tour: It's Not Complicated, Sara Ann Donnelly
House Tour: This Old (Mod) House, Virginia M. Wright
Maine Homes; Antiques Roadshow, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Homes: Hidden Treasure, Sara Anne Donnelly
Maine Homes; House Tour; Cold Comfort, Meadow Rue Merrill Photographer
Maine Homes: My Space: Culture Trip, Sarah Stebbins
Maine Street Style, Arielle Greenberg
Maker: Tooling Around, Tina Fischer
My Favorite Place: Dr. Edison Liu, Bar Harbor Shore Path, Brian Kevin
My favorite place: Jennifer Rooks, Kettle Cove, Cape Elizabeth, Sarah Stebbins
My Favorite Place: Sam Morse: Sheer Boom Trail, Sugarloaf, Sarah Stebbins
My Favorite Place: Timothy Simmons, Hello Hello Books, Rockland, Will Grunewald
My Favorite Place: Water Cove, Phippsburg, Benjamin Williamson Photographer
Nine on the Line, Jesse Ellison
No Elder an Island, Jesse Ellison
North By East; The Maine Woods: Last Stand, Philip Kiefer
Oceans 7, Will Grunewald and Gabe Souza, photographer
Offshore, Gabe Souza, photographer
Outdoors; Twilight of the Diehards: Baxter State Park retires an age-old and way cold tradition, Brian Kevin
