First I check Google. If there's no luck there, mailing list or usenet archives are usually the next step. I find the level of technical skill to be higher in mail and news for the type of info I see. Beyond that, I suppose there is IRC.

As for finding a place with a community that is as active, knowledgeable, and centralized as PM, heh, good luck. The monastery seems to be a rare breed.

Java Monks is one site I have found that is attempting to emulate the monastery, but seems to be having mixed results.