Leigh Rogers

Each spring in Washington, D.C., a quiet yet profound ritual of diplomacy unfolds, not behind closed doors, but through open gates. On May 9, 2026, the annual European Union Open House returns as part of the broader “Passport DC” celebrations, inviting the public into a rare intimacy with the cultural and political fabric of Europe. This event, organized by the European Union Delegation to the United States, coincides with Europe Day, commemorating the Schuman Declaration, the foundational...

For many of us, there’s a quiet cultural assumption that reading more books equals greater intelligence. The image is almost universal: someone with tall stacks of books, a Goodreads challenge medal, or a list of 100 titles completed in a year. But what if the act of reading more — without deeper engagement — doesn’t actually make us smarter? This is the realization many avid readers are reaching as they reflect on their habits and what truly fuels intellectual growth.

The Lafayette Escadrille Memorial: History, Symbolism, and How to Visit Hidden amid the green expanse of the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud — a park that stretches west of central Paris toward Versailles — stands one of the most powerful yet often overlooked tributes to Franco-American history : the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial . Built in 1928 to honor the American pilots who volunteered to fight for France in World War I, this monument celebrates courage, sacrifice, and a transatlantic...