One last Maltese Falcon Post...

After yesterday, I knew I hadn't visited all of the places mentioned in The Maltese Falcon.* I did visit 891 Post St., which is another apartment Hammett had in San Francisco and the basis for the description of the Spade's apartment, but I didn't post the pictures I took because they were boring. But, there was still one other place I hadn't visited--John's Grill.
Part of the reason I had not visited was because when you google, "maltese falcon san francisco", it's one of the first things that pops up. And that didn't seem right to me, because John's Grill is in the book for maybe two lines and there's no real description of the place aside from the fact that Spade orders pork chops, mashed potatoes and tomato slices, and that he smokes while he's there. But. Dinah's conference was really near the grill, so today we met there for lunch. And I gotta say, it was pretty awesome.
The ambiance is really cool. Lit sparingly, but not dim, the dark wood gives you the feeling that this place is just as it was when Hammet visited it. I doubt Hammet would look kindly on the prices, but the place is kind of a tourist trap, so what can you do?
The only thing that convinced me I wanted to visit this place was the rumor that they had a replica of the falcon there on the second floor. I am not someone who craves seeing or having movie replicas, but this is my weak spot. Like the characters in the book, I crave a maltese falcon. I have dreams of getting my first post-law school check and buying a maltese falcon replica,** to put on my desk.
Anyway. As Dinah and I were sitting there waiting for lunch, I noticed that above the bar, they had sitting a small replica. I tried to take some pictures of that, but because of the lighting, I couldn't get one to turn out. Suffice it to say, it was smaller than I thought. And the display of it up there was not terribly impressive. It looked more like an afterthought than I would've thought for a place that prides itself on being in Hammett's masterpiece.
But I ventured upstairs after a bit and found the case I've pictured here. Let me tell you, it was truly impressive. I may have stared at it for twenty minutes, before heading back downstairs.

*Note 1. I know, you were all very disappointed in me.

**Note 2. And secretly, it's not that expensive.