The communicatrix likes this stuff

Blogs

• I read this, this, and this every time they publish.
• For the whole list, click here.

Books…

• …I have reviewed and recommend
• …I have not reviewed, but love and recommend
• …I have read thus far in 2011

Community

• Biznik , Business networking that doesn’t suck
• Women’s Business Socials , No snotty ladies allowed!
• kernspiracy , Designers’ (and marketers/etc) email list
• w o r d s p a c e , Writers’ haven in Los Angeles
• The Secret City , “church” for artists (NYC only for now)

Flan (yes, it gets its own category)

• The Flan King , Now shipping across the U.S.!

L.A.-local stuff

• Café Tropical , Cuban-style coffee joint in Silver Lake
• Café du Village , Terrific, inexpensive Larchmont eatery RIP
• Catts & Doggs , Pet supplies and grooming in Silver Lake
• Kaldi Coffee & Tea , Local-to-Atwater coffee, wifi and patio!
• Pasquale Shoe Repair , They have a café, too!
• RM Automotive , Geniuses with the Japanese autos
• Taylor’s , Old-school steakhouse in Koreatown

Shopping

• Groupon , As I say in my (glowing) review, I am MAD for deals, and I’ve found many through Groupon. As to haters, I’ll say this: I’ve also ending up signing on for more expensive stuff that I wouldn’t have bought without a trial first. So if you’re really a cheapskate (as opposed to a frugal type), beware! [This and my Amazon links are my only affiliate links. So you know.]
• Amazon , I am all for shopping locally where possible. I am also for saving money where possible. I think this is best done with a combination of thoughtful spending and thoughtful not-spending. I spend locally to keep my family-owned hardware store in business. On the other hand, while I suppose there are non-awful Big Box stores, I have zero problem buying most of my electronics via Amazon. (And when I do, I buy via a friend’s affiliate link.) Amazon affiliate kickbacks help to keep me in luxuries like first-run books, Kindle or hard-copy, which I in turn review here. So hey, THANK YOU for buying stuff through my Amazon link. Especially really expensive stuff, like electronics and shoes and 15-lb. bags of coconut flour.

Updated January 26, 2012, but do check individual pages for latest dates, and always “phone” first. (Haha…”phones.”)