Take a walk in Sam Spade's gumshoes

Yes, imagine.

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The 'Falcon' experience

Expenses for two:

Lodging

Holiday Inn Golden Gateway, two nights $294

Dinners

John's Grill and Plouf $182

Other drinks and meals $47

Entertainment

Hammett tour $10

Transportation

Airfare (Orange County to Oakland) and BART fares $377

Total $910

From L.A. 383 miles

WHERE TO STAY:

Holiday Inn Golden Gateway, 1500 Van Ness Ave., Nob Hill; (415) 441-4000, www.holiday-inncom/sfo-golden. The hotel is at the western end of the California cable car line, and passes are included in the Cable Car Package. Doubles starting at $124.

WHERE TO EAT:

John's Grill, 63 Ellis St., Union Square; (415) 986-3274, www.johnsgrill.com. Old-style chophouse, packed with tables, where Sam Spade waited for his car. Entrees $20-$30.

Plouf, 40 Belden Place (an alley off Kearney Street near Pine Street), downtown; (415) 986-6491, www.ploufsf.com. French bistro that offers several variations of steamed clams and mussels. Entrees $13-$24.

WHERE TO GO:

Dashiell Hammett Tour Four-hour walking tours led by Don Herron. Noon each Sunday in May, departing from 100 Larkin St. $10. No reservations. Also short tours for groups by arrangement, $5 per person. www.donherron.com.

The Flood Building 870 Market St., downtown; www.floodbuilding.com. Historic 1904 office building where Hammett worked for the Pinkerton Agency.

Hammett's apartment 891 Post St., downtown; where Hammett wrote "The Maltese Falcon" and thought by fans to be the model for Sam Spade's apartment.

Burritt Street This Nob Hill alley south of Bush Street, just west of Stockton Street, is where Spade's partner, Miles Archer, was murdered in "The Maltese Falcon."

-- Scott Martelle