With his delighted expression, round belly, bald head and monastic robes, the “Laughing Buddha” is instantly identifiable. However, astute observers might wonder why this buddha does not look like the ...

Following Hurricanes Helene and Milton—which caused catastrophic damage, tearing roofs off buildings and slamming sand and floodwaters into homes across the region over a two-week period in September ...

Since all that construction on Tamiami Trail just north of downtown Sarasota took hold, I’ve favored its north-south traveling counterpart just one block east. Cocoanut Avenue is now my trusty go-to ...

Montclair’s Five Spiced Kitchen has a new sister restaurant in Piedmont. Laughing Buddha Vegetarian Bistro is celebrating its grand opening at 3766 Piedmont Ave. in a space occupied for two decades by ...

In Japan, children look forward to a visit from Hotei, a jolly Japanese god with a rotund frame. Ganref As Christmas approaches, children in many parts of the world look forward to a visit from the ...

(The Conversation) — Hotei, a Japanese god who carries a large sack, has come to be identified with Santa Claus – except that he brings the goodies on New Year’s Day instead of Christmas. (The ...