Happy Birthday, Neal Cassady! Take an Armchair Tour of His Denver...

The friendship of Kerouac (left) and Cassady is commemorated in a current show at the Denver Public Library, Neal Cassady's Denver. Evan Semón

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Jack Kerouac visited Denver for the first time in 1947. He’d been told by a friend at Columbia University that he should meet up with Neal Cassady, a legendary free spirit, raconteur and troublemaker. Kerouac was only in town for ten days that time, but the Mile High City made an enduring impression on him, and its sights and sounds — not to mention Cassady, transformed into Dean Moriarty — figure prominently in On the Road, his most enduring work.

The Beat will go on tonight, February 7, at the Mercury Cafe, which will host the eleventh annual Neal Cassady Birthday Bash.

In advance of that event (and before the current snow), we went out to capture some of the favorite haunts of Cassady and Keraouc around Denver. Here's a sampling of our stops; you can take an armchair tour on this snowy day.

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The friendship of Kerouac (left) and Cassady is commemorated in a current show at the Denver Public Library, Neal Cassady's Denver.

Evan Semón

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Neal Cassady grew up in and around Curtis Park.

Evan Semón

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Cassady liked to hang out at Denver's Central Library, today the McNichols Building.

Evan Semón

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Cassady went to Ebert Elementary.

Evan Semón

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Then East High School.

Evan Semón

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Cassady got caught joyriding in a stolen car at 16th and Court.

Evan Semón

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Before Cassady was sent to juvie, he hung out at Paul's Place, now My Brother's Bar.

Evan Semón

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In 1947, Jack Kerouac came to Denver to meet Cassady.

Evan Semón

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At the time, the D&F Clocktower was the tallest building in Denver.

Evan Semón

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Kerouac liked hanging out in Five Points, watching games at what's now Sonny Lawson Field.

Evan Semón

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And listening to jazz at the Rossonian.

Evan Semón

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After ten days, Kerouac was on the road again, but he wasn't done with Denver...

Evan Semón

Click here for the complete slideshow, "Go on the Road With Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady."