Tag Archives: John’s Grill

Tour: Just Over Twenty Years Ago. . .

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Don

Our pal Mike Humbert sent a couple of images winging around the net, with the info line: “Two pics from me taking the Dashiell Hammett tour for the first time, October 27, 2002.” Twenty years ago and change. Image at … Continue reading →

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Mort: William F. Nolan

Posted on July 31, 2021 by Don

A few days after the fact, word drifted in that William F. Nolan died, age 93, on July 15. I scanned some of the obits, all rightly selecting the science fiction novel Logan’s Run as the book of all his … Continue reading →

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Frisco Beat: Daniel Woodrell, Resident

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Don

Terry Zobeck just happened across an article on Hammett and a couple of New Guy writers (new compared to Hammett, at least) in which they eat in John’s Grill, visit Burritt alley — the things one does in Frisco. For … Continue reading →

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Frisco Beat: Working the Hammett Hangout in the Days of Coronavirus

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Don

A.k.a. not working. Just heard a GoFundMe page is up for the employees of John’s Grill, 63 Ellis Street, where Sam Spade grabs a meal in The Maltese Falcon. Tide them over until those noir doors open again.

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Frisco Beat: Feel the Bern

Posted on August 27, 2019 by Don

Generally speaking, I wouldn’t bother with politics on the blog — mostly because I’m not in the grip of one of the prevailing derangement delusions. Hammett was a communist. (Or, technically, a rich communist, which makes the whole commie thing … Continue reading →

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Mort: Gus Konstin

Posted on August 13, 2018 by Don

And Brian Wallace just popped me the sad news from the San Francisco Chronicle that Gus Konstin — owner of John’s Grill — has died. Under Gus’s tenure, the grill set up the various tributes to Hammett, in celebration of … Continue reading →

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Tour: Four Sunday Walks

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Don

Shot above: a tour of yesteryear looking at the awning signage on John’s Grill in Ellis Street. Okay, now that the rainy season has swept past the Mean Streets, how about a round of walks where anyone can show up … Continue reading →

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Hammett: Hey-Ya, Hey-Ya, Who’s Got a Black Boid?

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Don

Nathan Ward just sent along a link to an article in Vanity Fair on the subject of falcon statues — from the 1941 Bogie flick or the George Segal The Black Bird or anywhere else you might grab a falcon … Continue reading →

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Tombstone: Blackjack Jerome — or, What I Did on Hammett’s 121st Birthday

Posted on September 6, 2015 by Don

Earlier this year Fondas Ladis from Greece was in the burg, researching a biography of John “Blackjack” Jerome. Blackjack was a Greek, who among other activities became famous as a strikebreaker, in San Francisco and around the country. Tradition has … Continue reading →

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Tour: Sunday July 26 and Sunday August 9

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Don

Next walks where anyone with $20 in hand and about four hours to wander the mean streets will be on Sunday July 26 and Sunday August 9. If interested, just show up by noon near the “L” sculpture, ready to … Continue reading →

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