In Defense of the Autry (other than BBQs)

I'm a vegetarian so fortunately, that lifestyle choice did not lead me to a non-BBQ BBQ-event that has caused much irritation by many, and rightfully so. From experience, if you want some good BBQ in a festival environment, we know first-hand that the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival offers great food, including BBQ (well, this veggie at least recommends the best peach cobbler you'll ever have. As for the 'que, our meat-eating friends never complained and went for second servings).

Anyway, the National Autry Center's Griffith Park Museum of the American West, where the BBQ Competition took place this past weekend, is an excellent choice for some local museum going. The two-story museum has smartly divided its floors by general themes - how the West was seen through romanization and Hollywood (top floor) and how the West really was (bottom floor).

My favorite is the top floor with the rotating shows and the Romance Gallery's collection of paintings, which "explores the ideas about western lands, life and work..." Currently on display until April 22 in one of the temporary exhibit galleries is the second part of Yosemite: Art of an American Icon, which is a collection of photographs and artworks of and influenced by the National Park.

If you are into western art and cowboy lore, you will be sold on this museum. If you are not, it is definitely worth checking out at least once. Give the LA Zoo a small rest and see what happens across the street.

Photo by dnhoshor via Flickr