Lisa Rimmert

For the 202nd week of "7 QUESTION SUNDAY" we shine the spotlight on another influential individual from the PNW. Lisa Rimmert is a standup comedian and PNW transplant!

4EVRGRN: Hey, LR! Tell us a little about yourselves.

LR: Hi, I’m Lisa a comedian, award-winning author, and self-proclaimed “dog lady.”

What got you into stand up comedy?

LR: As a child, I often got in trouble for being a smart-mouth. It wasn't until my mid-twenties that I found a productive outlet for my shenanigans. I began taking improv classes in 2010, and became immersed in the comedy scene in St. Louis, where I lived at the time. After trying a standup comedy class out of curiosity, I performed off and on in St. Louis, then Denver, then Maryland (I move a lot). As the pandemic died down, I jumped back into standup full force (in Michigan—keep up!). Now I'm a Washingtonian, and I've been having a blast out here!

How did you get into advocating for animals?

LR: Dogs have been my number one interest since I can remember. When we had pets I was in love with them, and when we didn't I invented imaginary ones. In college I worked at a humane society and learned about the importance of spaying/neutering and adopting instead of buying. From there, I went on to recognize that we should be kind to other animals too (who knew?!) and I became a vegetarian, then a vegan, then what I referred to as a "professional vegan" as the vice president of an international vegan outreach organization. I've done just about everything a person can do to advocate for animals, except for protesting half-naked. (Never say never — right, Dad?!)

Tell us about your memoir Stay: My Forever Friendship with an Aging Dog!

LR: I self-published Stay in September 2022, and I've sold over 200 copies so far and won a silver Benjamin Franklin Award for Best First Book. The story takes readers along on my journey from denial to acceptance as my dog Dakota started to show signs of aging. It'll make you laugh and cry, especially if you've ever cared for an aging loved one. You can buy a copy on Amazon or Bookshop.org, or at King's Books in Tacoma or A Good Book in Sumner.

What is something anyone who visits the PNW should do (or see)?

LR: I haven't even lived here for a year yet, so I feel like I should be the one asking this! I've enjoyed walking with my dog at Point Defiance Park. Also, I still stare in awe every time I see Mount Rainier, which sometimes makes me a dangerous driver. If the "mountain's out" and you come across a silver Jetta on 512, watch out!

Being a PNW transplant, what was your biggest culture shock?

LR: I think moving around my whole life has made me immune to culture shock. But I do catch myself forgetting that the water to our west is *not* the ocean. It looks so oceany!

Favorite PNW comedy venue?

LR: My favorite club is Laughs Comedy Club in the U District in Seattle. It's a fun room with smart audiences and kind owners and bookers. (A rare instance of sucking up and being honest at the same time.) There are so many excellent bars, breweries, and other venues hosting comedy too. I'm a member of the Open Mic Collective PNW, which puts on great shows and open mic nights every week from Olympia to Des Moines.

What makes the PNW comedy scene unique?

LR: We have such a diverse community of comics and audiences. You can find the show for you in this area whether you're a fan of comedy that's clean or dirty, high- or low-brow, or anything in between or outside of the box completely! There's so many opportunities to get your laugh on in the PNW.

Get social with Lisa!
Facebook: @lisarimmy
Instagram: @lisarimmy
Twitter: @lisarimmy
Website: www.lisarimmert.com
Email: lisa@onthenosecomms.com