What is this? Has someone created a little sidewalk memorial of flowers for the downtown Buca di Beppo?

The restaurant closed its doors at 1400 Market Street a few weeks ago, but a sign remains in the window informing mourning patrons that they can still fill themselves with 10-pound spaghetti plates and faux Italian schlock at the corporate chain’s other locations in Broomfield and Littleton.

Closer inspection, however, reveals that the flowers are actually fake and look as though they were dumped there by some departing employee whose job it was to tear down the tons of kitschy, reproduced Italian tchatchkes that lined every nook and cranny of the space.

Rest in peace, dear Buca. You outgrew the most authentic basement location you ever had, and are now in a better place – the suburban strip mall in the sky. – Jared Jacang Maher

• Word of Mouth