Photo by Andy Sternberg/LAist A posthumous tribute wall dedicated to singer/songwriter Elliot Smith sat defaced by graffiti for months on end -- LAist said enough, so did the fans and city council.SFist was surprised to learn that chronic presidential candidate Ralph Nader picked former San Francisco Supervisor Matt Gonzalez as his running mate.Phillyist explored the possibilities of green cleaning.In the latest edition of Reel Toronto, a bi-weekly feature looking at films shot in Toronto......

If you happen to be wandering around on Myrtle Avenue around say, 10 o’clock, it could surprise one that there is actually a business open. The small stores and beauty saloons (why are there so many of these?) that line the street all shut their gates by the time it gets real dark, and the street can feel like a wall of metal instead of a new strip of emerging restaurants and bars. For......

I'm back with this week's show rundown. We realize it's frustrating to find out about a show and then find out it's sold out. This week we start the post with FIVE (actually SIX) recommended shows that are not yet sold out (some even free). Caribou (formerly Dan Snaith's Manitoba) plus Four Tet with the Junior Boys and Russian Futurists are playing Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday, and Northsix in Brooklyn on Thursday. The Junior Boys......

"We are deeply saddened by Elliott Smith's tragic death and send our condolences to his friends and family. He was perhaps his generation's most gifted singer-songwriter. His enormous talent could change your life with a whisper. We will miss him." - Dreamworks Records statement. In his Times obituary, Jon Pareles called Smith a "luminary of independent rock." Not all musicians necessarily lead the lives they sing about, but looking at the various obituaries and thoughts......