February 2019

There’s nothing quite like a hot pizza fresh out of the oven to bring an end to a long day. Calgary has you covered, with a number of amazing pizza parlors sure to set your mouth watering with flavors ranging from traditional to esoteric.

Try one of these Calgary pizzerias today.

Pizza Bob's Classic Pie - 2610 Kensington Road NW

This pizza joint is a bit different than others because they provide a different type of atmosphere. Thursdays feature punk and garage bands on a small stage, while karaoke is found here on Fridays.

UNA Pizza + Wine

UNA Pizza & Wine is a Californian-inspired neighbourhood restaurant. If you are like most newcomers, you do not know UNA means; A in Italian, as in a pizza place. The management decided it would

Happy hour is that favourite time of week to get great deals on drinks after work or on the weekends. Typically bars and restaurants offer happy hours deals until 8pm in Calgary. You can find deals like wine under $2, beer under $3 and liquor for around $2.75.

Bar owners benefit because they can bring customers in while customers are exciting to save a few bucks during happy hour. Sometimes you can get discounts on food too. Here is a look at the best happy hour places around Calgary to check out.

Buzzards - 140 10th Avenue S.W.

Bottlescrew Bill is a pub in Calgary with an awesome patio and great beer. Try their draft beer at $5 a pin on weekdays from 4-7pm. Try the highballs for $4 as well.

Double Zero - Located at the Core and Chinook

Your real estate agent gives you a call to let you know that he'll be arriving for a showing in less than an hour. Your house is in a shambles from top to bottom but you don't want to cancel the viewing. You run through the house to make it presentable and have pull it off at the last minute. You decide that you never want to do this again and want to be better prepared for the next showings. Here are 3 tips that you can use to help keep your home in shape and always ready for visitors.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Always Be Prepared

Have the basic assumption planted in your mind that you're going to have a showing daily. This

If you've been hunting for something a little different, a trip to Chinatown will provide a couple of great restaurants. Chinese cuisine is very popular, but finding the best Chinese food in Calgary isn't always easy. If you're searching for something delicious and authentic, here are two great choices in Chinatown.

Silver Dragon - 106 3rd Avenue SE

Dim sum is at its' best here, but they serve far more than just one dish. Silver Dragon is also well-known for their Chinese breakfast and authentic cuisine.

Planning a trip to this restaurant on the weekend can be a bit tricky. It's often full all weekend long and you may have to way for a table. However, it's well worth the wait as you dine on some of the best dim sum in all of Calgary and

Real estate is a business but there are people behind the buying and selling of a house. There's a human factor involved that isn't addressed often enough and you can use this to your advantage. Instead of putting in an offer that comes from a stranger, you can personalize your offer with a letter. But on top of that, there are a lot of legal requirements that may baffle prospective home buyers. Here’s what you need to know when you write a home purchase offer.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

How to Write a Compelling Purchase Offer

You can explain who you are in it and why you want the house so much. A handwritten letter may help

Going to the movies is fun. But, there is not a lot you have to plan or prepare for in order to have a good time. They supply you with everything you need. Going to a drive-in on the other hand, is taking the movie experience to a whole new level. There are things you need to do and stuff you need to bring, to make your drive-in experience enjoyable.

Get There Early

Just because the movie starts at 10:00 PM, does not mean arriving 5 minutes before the movie starts is fine. If you want to get a decent parking spot where you can actually see the movie, you need to get there early.

The other reason you come early is to enjoy the fun before the movie starts. You can get some concessions and enjoy some of the drive-in amenities.

Bring

Finding a great patio for dining is a great way to enjoy a romantic date in the summer. There are plenty of restaurants with patios that take reservations within Calgary. Here are a few of the top choices.

Oxbow - 1126 Memorial Drive NW

With an incredible view of the Bow River and downtown, this patio provides plenty to enjoy. It's a fine-dining restaurant with excellent dishes, but you will want to make a reservation if you want to enjoy the patio as it fills up fast.

Sunterra Keynote - 200 12 Avenue SE

Another great patio found in Calgary is located at Sunterra Keynote. This patio is above the artisan grocer and provides a great spot for lunch. You can reserve a table in advance, which makes it perfect for a daytime date.

Balo

When it's time to bring your sweetheart flowers, Calgary offers a number of great florists to choose from. Whether you want to send your mom something special, or you just want to show your spouse you love them, visit one of these local florists and pick out a special bouquet.

Recently Calgary's Avenue Magazine checked out a few local florists that offer special savings and customer perks to keep those new blossoms coming.

Amborella Floral Studio

Some of their best customers live in the communities of Bayview, Pump Hill and Oakridge which are near Glenmore Landing where this lovely flower shop is located. Even since the store opened in this location four years ago, they've been offering flowers left from the week at half price between 3:00

There are so many great climbing and cave attractions near Calgary that it's a shame if you don't try one! There are so many great ways to get outdoors, get active and enjoy a bonding experience with family or friends.

Whether you're seeking rock climbing, caving or a ropes course, you can enjoy these things at locations like Mt. Norquay and Mt. Yamnuska or take lessons with Nakoda Lodge and Yamnuska Mountain Adventures in Canmore. Here is a look at these and more offering ropes courses, climbing and cave attractions near you.

Caving

Have you ever wanted to check out some of the unbelievable cave experiences in the area? Check out Canmore Caverns Ltd, a company that is offering a great cave experience. They'll take you to Rat's Nest Cave

Some home improvements are worth more than others. If you're a homeowner who is thinking about making home improvements in the coming months, choosing your home improvements wisely is important. These four home improvements have low ROI, and may even decrease your home's value.

Turning a Bedroom Into Something Else

Bedrooms add value to homes, so a bedroom conversion that turns a bedroom into an office space, library or recording studio can decrease the value of that home. Homeowners who want to convert their spare bedroom into another room altogether must do so carefully. No matter what the changes, it's important to ensure that someone else could use the space as a bedroom. Homeowners should be wary of making changes like building in office