Five Questions for: Paul Rimar
By SocialMiami contributor Allison Weiss Brady
Paul Rimar, who for over fifteen years dedicated his career to social work and helping patients achieve the most from medical care, is now applying his skills toward enriching our lifestyles. Yes, armed with a Masters Degree in social work from Temple University and a certificate in gerontology from its medical school’s Institute on Aging, Rimar is filming a TV show (watch it online) and launching a premium and refreshing canned cocktail (find it exclusively at Lique Miami Waterfront restaurant and lounge in North Miami Beach.
This rising superstar, who splits his time between Miami and Philadelphia, sat down with SocialMiami’s Allison Weiss Brady the inside scoop on the latest and greatest of what he’s up to.
AWB: What was the inspiration for your new beverage called “The RiTini?”
The creation of “The RiTini” was a natural spinoff, a continuation of the success of the first season of my lifestyle and entertainment show “The RI Show.” Instead of T-shirts, we came up with a refreshing premium vodka drink that comes in a can. This bubbly vodka and strawberry lemonade canned cocktail contains 8 percent premium vodka along with real juices to add to the flavor and monk fruit for sweetness. It’s also gluten-free, low carb, and low calorie. The drink is a fun pink color. Serve it with a slice of fresh strawberry or drink it chilled right out of the can! It’s a delicious sparking canned cocktail and I love seeing people smile when they drink it.
Tell me about filming your first season of “The RI Show” on MyNetworkTV in Miami. What lessons did you learn that you’d apply to future episodes?
Filming a TV show was a brand-new challenge for me, so all of it was a learning situation.
I enjoy filming in a studio, but I prefer interviewing people in their element. We are going to their restaurants, homes, and businesses in order to give our TV viewers the most authentic representation of the people being interviewed. I love to capture that essence on air, especially if there is a beautiful Miami landscape in the background.
Since your search for the latest & greatest things to showcase—what are your favorite places to go, eat, shop, and relax in Miami?
You might spot me at my go-to restaurant in Bal Harbour Shops called Le Zoo, a French brasserie from famed restauranteur Stephen Starr. I’ll be there at my favorite table, the high-top booth on the right side, right next to the Aquazurra shoe boutique. I’ll be enjoying my favorite dish, the salmon tartare.
Who were your favorite guests on “The RI Show” show?
Romero Britto- I’ve always been a fan of his and collected his art. He personifies Miami. Getting to know him is such a blessing. We filmed TV segments with him and his art consultant Liz Newman at both his gallery on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach and his warehouse called Britto Palace, which was inspired by Buckingham Palace. It’s an incredible experience; I had to use a golden ticket to enter.
Another favorite guest was an atypical experience for me where I planted a cactus with Plant Daddy, a well-known landscape designer based on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. For clients, he creates “an indoor green paradise” with planters made out of wicker, decorative clay pots, skull planters, and even has private classes for those non-green thumbs like me. On the show, he taught me about fun aspects of Miami greenery.
Tell me about your recent TV 1st season wrap-up/ The RiTini Launch party in North Miami Beach? What did you love most about the party, the location, the guests, etc. at the event?
It was a surreal experience. I would say that it was a definite success. With Miami being one of the top markets for “The RI Show” and The RiTini brand, everyone who attended definitely delivered on the fashion, trends and accessories, everything was top tier! There was so much love and support from everyone, especially from Marysol Patton and Adriana de Moura from The Real Housewives of Miami, Renee Graziano and Carla Facciolo from Mob Wives, Bella Ison, Brooklyn Johnny, and Romero Britto, who’s such a wonderful friend and role model.
The one thing I loved the most and truly melted my heart was all the love and support I received. There was just so much love in the room and Miami definitely came out to support and represent. And the location was absolutely phenomenal. The event was in the Private Lounge at Lique Miami Waterfront Restaurant & Lounge in North Miami Beach. It has a gorgeous, must-see intercostal view from the outdoor deck.
Allison Weiss Brady handles marketing for celebrities and non-profits. She is active in many organizations in South Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania including Big Brothers Big Sister, The Community Coalition, Voices Against Brain Cancer, Gene Spotlight, The Barton G. Kids Hear Now Foundation, and one of her family’s foundations Say Yes to Education, which recently partnered with Quincy Jones. Weiss Brady and her husband Chip Brady are members of Art Basel’s Junior Host Committee and Weiss Brady is a member of the Vizcaya Preservation Luncheon Founding Committee. She on the Board of Advisors at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice and she’s the only female on the university’s Football Board. Weiss Brady was also the sole recipient of the University of Pennsylvania’s 2008 Young Alumni of the Year Award, and serves on the Overseers board for the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania.
