When I was young, my mom gave me a red, white and blue bumper sticker that said, “Readers are Leaders.” While pictures of boy bands, Tom Cruise in Top Gun, and other childhood obsessions came and went throughout the years, that slogan adorned my bulletin board until I left for college. Simply put, in a world where we are incessantly bombarded with mind-numbing platitudes, images, jingles, and catchphrases, this simple, yet powerful, statement resonates throughout the ages. Be

The back half of the Tallahassee Democrat’s newsroom was packed Monday night as the newspaper and local independent bookstore Midtown Reader teamed up to host James Patterson, the world’s best-selling author, at the North Magnolia Drive location. Patterson has sold more than 350 million books worldwide and writes in multiple genres outside of thriller (for which he is best known), including middle-grade and young-adult fiction. The event began at 5:30 p.m. and lasted roughly

Spring in Tallahassee has arrived with its wonderfully bold colors, delightful temperatures, and longer days (not to mention more pollen than one town should ever have to endure). As part of this dazzling time of year, many of you will find time to escape to the seashore, hit the slopes for the final snowfall of the season, or find a quiet spot in the warm sun shining in the parks and greenways of our scenic hometown. As you relish these promising moments of the new season, M