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Nadine sez...

Buca di Beppo added a sweet touch to its meals with the introduction of Martini & Rossi Prosecco and Asti to its wine list.

Prosecco has taken off in recent years as a refreshing white wine alternative to champagne for those who can't deal with all those tiny bubbles.

If you're low on cash, Prosecco ($27.95 bottle) complements a wide range of dishes, so a bottle goes far. Try it with the mixed green salad and gorgonzola ($8.45 small) and spicy calamari ($9.45 small) for starters, then a main course of linguine with clam sauce.

If you've saved room for dessert, try the Asti ($26.95 bottle) with tiramisu ($9.95) -- two pick-me-ups together.

» Place: Buca di Beppo, Ward Entertainment Center, 1030 Auahi St.
» Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
» Call: 591-0800

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NADINE KAM / NKAM@STARBULLETIN.COM

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Burl sez ...

This is the season when a middle-aged person's thoughts turn to -- middle school.

Homework and classroom projects are due with a vengeance. That home-improvement project that's half-done? Forget it, you're helping out with American History. You're not getting graded on mowing the lawn, but your kid is on Practical Math. Punt that summer blockbuster you wanted to see, because you're quizzing your kid on Hawaiian verbs and adjectives. And getting your parents comfortable in the old-folks' home is on hold, because, hey, finals are next week in English and the kid still thinks a noun is one of the multiple-choices, as in "noun of the above."

Well, summer beckons, and we can kick back and ... oops, we're still going to work every day while the kids kick back. What was the point of graduating, again?

Gary sez ...

I'm curious to see the new downtown space that Cinema Paradise co-directors Sergio Goes and Chris Kahunahana are opening on First Friday (see Page 7). This gives the annual independent film festival a new permanent home after venue hopping from the former art house theaters in Restaurant Row and Varsity theater. The 3rd Cinema Paradise will happen June 24 to 30.

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