Ralph's was "Sacred Ground" on Friday evenings (actually every night) and we used to cash our paychecks there along with the Genesee Brewery employees from across the street.
During the winter months, the GM Terry Hicks, would give Ralph a $100 bill and have his employees drink for free (back then a bottle of beer was $1.25) and when it was used up, he would put up another $100 bill. This was his way of saying "Thanks" for working in the sub-zero temperatures. It was a ritual back in those days! Then when it closed, everyone would go to Nick Tahou's (pronounced: Tahoe's) on the lower-westside and get the "Garbage Plate".
Other places that come to mind there were the Penny Arcade, The Woodshed, a ton of bars in Charlotte (pronounced: Shar-Lot) and other now dangerous ghetto areas throughout the city.
