10 great sites for local content and mobile devices

A movement is growing to encourage buying the things we need locally, cutting out the high shipping and marketing costs associated with products that travel long distances to get to us. A good number of Web sites have sprung up to help us do just that--buy locally--and many include reviews of local merchants. Some of these sites are accessible on mobile devices, and we suggest a few more that seem made for mobile.

Find Local Stuff

Yelp: Yelp has emerged as the leading destination for determining whether the launderette, restaurant, therapist, or manicurist across town or around the corner is worth a visit. Remember that virtually every business gets at least a couple of bad reviews, so factor that in, and try to gauge the general vibe of the reviews.

OpenTable: Open­Table is simply the biggest and best-connected site for making dining reservations online. It has wisely added a mobile app so that you can easily select and make reservations while you're away from home. Chowhound: My foodie friends say this is the place to go to dig up great restaurants, recipes, cooking and dining stories and blogs, and good discussions about food and drink. Today's featured recipe: Smoked Duck and Cherry Pressed Sandwich. I think I just drooled on my desk.

Angie's List: Another great locally focused "wisdom of the crowd" site. How in the world do you know if this contractor or that auto shop is reputable and competent? Angie's List at least gives you some solid clues, and as anybody who's had work done on a house or car knows, some serious money is on the line. A small monthly membership fee applies.

Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world

• Email
• Print
• Share
  • Slashdot
  • Digg
  • Stumble
  • Reddit
  • Newsvine