Theater Up-and-Comer Digs Unurban, Bike Path

For "," an ongoing and open-ended series, we ask prominent figures in the community what they most enjoy about SM.

Our latest installment features picks from Ricky Butler, a Santa Monica native and graduate who is also an up-and-comer in the theater scene.

On Thursday, Butler's one-man show, American Addict, premieres at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. That performance will be followed by additional ones on Friday and Saturday, as well as June 24 and 25. All the shows will be held at the I.O. West Theater and start at 8 p.m.

American Addict—which Butler also wrote and produced—revolves around six eccentric New York City characters and their struggles with drugs, sex and celebrity.

But enough about New York; here's what Butler told us are his favorite aspects of his Santa Monica hometown:

1. : "The first time I ever did stand-up comedy [was here]. At the time, I didn't think my act of being George W. Bush for five minutes would go over on a über-left-wing coffee house crowd, but it did!"

2. : "In the past, you had to allot yourself an hour just to get sandwich there, but now they pre-make their Godmothers to go—yes!"

3. Marix Playa (118 Entrada Dr.): "I'm lazy. I'll go from Patrick's Roadhouse for breakfast and go right next door to Marix for dinner. But they have the best guacamole and salsa in town, and on Tuesday nights, they practically give away tacos for Taco Tuesday."

4. Santa Monica bike path: "I've mentioned a lot of food here, so I gotta burn it off with a run! And how can you beat a beachside cruise with all the characters Southern California has to offer passing you by?"

Correction: Butler attended St. Monica Catholic High School, not Santa Monica High School.