Update

The Rainier 'R' sidled up next to King's Hardware and became the target of many an iPhone.

You can see our own photo above.

Did you get a picture with the R?

Original

Ballard will be a part of history tonight as the rebuilt classic Rainier "R" will wind its way through the neighborhood around 6 p.m.

The R will be spotted throughout several neighborhoods today, ginning up excitement for its restoration to its proper place at the old Rainier Brewery. After sitting proudly on the Seattle skyline over I-5 for about 50 years, the original R had been taken down in 2000 and replaced by a green 'T' -- as in Tully's, to mark its roaster in the spot.

Now, with Patrick 'McDreamy' Dempsey taking his leave from Tully's, the new owners have decided to do the right thing by the Emerald City and are erecting the iconic red neon 'R' once more. While the old one is sitting in MOHAI, the new one takes on many of the same attributes -- the same swooshy-looking design -- just with more lights.

In a Seattle Times report, Tully's chairman and co-owner Michael Avenatti was quoted as saying: "The replacement of the 'R' with the 'T' some 13 years ago was a mistake. That part of the Seattle skyline has always truly belonged to the 'R.'"

Of course -- from Red Hook to Maritime to this or the latest wave of micro- and nano-breweries -- Ballard knows exactly how much significance a brew can hold for a community. So lift up a pint and give a holler as the R parades through the 'hood.

For more info, visit http://www.restorether.com/, to check the R's progress, check their twitter, @Rainier_Beer.

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