International Avenue's unique mix of individuals, businesses and ideas is one of a kind in Calgary

Every year, people from all over Calgary flock to 17th Avenue S.E. to take part in a foodie favourite event called Around the World in 35 Blocks.

The event sees people tour some of the many restaurants between 26th Street and 61st Street S.E., dubbed International Avenue, stopping to taste the cuisine, chat with restaurant owners and see cooking demonstrations.

The event is organized by the International Avenue Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ), and is a showcase for a shopping and dining district that rivals 17th Avenue S.W., but with a wholly different flavour.

City eyes the future with 17th Avenue facelift

Whether you're a person or a stretch of pavement, 30 years of hard labour can take its toll. When you're as heavily travelled as 17th Avenue S.W., the effect is multiplied. That's why the City of Calgary, armed with a $44 million budget, is giving much of the area a facelift. From Macleod Trail to 14th Street S.W., the City is upgrading utilities, rebuilding the road and improving pedestrian areas to pave the way for future use.

"This began as simply a road construction project," said Ryan Murray, a spokesperson for the City of Calgary's transportation department. "After 30 years, it was time to dig down and rebuild the foundation of 17th Avenue. We decided that while we were down there, we should make the most of it by upgrading old utilities and rebuilding the road."

Marlo Giannaccari and Chris Roche rang in the new year with new Windsor Park duplex

Marlo Giannaccari, 33, and Chris Roche, 31, began their home search two years ago, armed with a strong vision of their dream oasis. Location was top of mind, as was a modernist design approach and lots of room for their two adorable pooches, Pinot and Bronco. The couple had been living in Marlo's Windsor Park townhome, but they wanted to create a home of their own together. Eventually, they found a four-bedroom, two-storey, new-build duplex in the inner-city neighbourhood of Windsor Park. They moved into their light-filled abode in December, just in time to celebrate the new year.

Calgary housing market prices hold, but sales fall

Residential home sales declined in February, but a decline in new listings helped keep prices steady this month.

Sales totaled 1,094 units in February, 18 per cent below last year's activity. Easing sales occurred across all property types this month, which outpaced the sales growth that occurred in January. After the first two months of the year, sales activity remains well below longer-term averages.

RESOLVE affordable housing initiative approaches successful conclusion

What do I want, you ask so innocently.
I want a HOME, as many of you have.

These lines come from a poem written by 67-year-old Anne Cartledge. "I use all capital letters when I write the word 'home,' because that's how important it is," she said.

Plagued with severe arthritis and fibromyalgia that left her unable to work, Cartledge first survived on AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) and, now, on her Old Age Security pension.

Though Cartledge describes herself as a "frugal shopper" and "good at the scrounge routine," she also admits, "I am part of the circle that if I didn't have subsidized housing, I'd be living on the street."

A short history of Calgary and the Canadian Pacific Railway

When construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) reached Calgary in 1883, the company built a train station on its land west of the Elbow River in present-day downtown.

The only problem was that most Calgarians in the small community already lived on the east side of the river, now Inglewood.

Local historian Doug Coats says, try as it might, the CPR could not convince Calgarians to move onto its land, so a plan was devised.

A crash course in Calgary bridges

Most Calgarians probably don't stop to think about the city's bridges every time they cross over them by car, by bike or on foot. However, many of these important structures have interesting backstories or architectural designs that make them special.

Sampling the 17th Avenue restaurant scene

Crossing the city from east to west, 17th Avenue is both thoroughfare and destination. Cleaved by the Elbow and Bow rivers, it's not a direct route, but the two halves are sides of the same coin, bonded by street name and a string of restaurants worth seeking out. Whether east or west, expect to find restaurants that celebrate and reflect Calgary's well-crafted and culturally diverse culinary scene.

Couple nearing retirement secured lifestyle close to family and amenities with new-build condo

Dragica and Ron Presiloski are nearing retirement and looking to move closer to family. The couple is still working full-time – Dragica in dentistry and Ron in commercial water treatment. They've been living in Regina for several years, where they own a condo, but their son and his wife reside in Calgary, as do most of the couple's extended family. So, it was a natural progression for the Presiloskis to begin their home search here.

City of Calgary report provides estimates for short-term growth in city's suburbs

What's Calgary going to look like in the next five years when it comes to growth and the housing market?

The City of Calgary's Suburban Residential Growth 2017-2021 report sheds some light on where the city is headed in terms of population and housing growth over the short term.

The draft document is an interesting one, and it serves as a starting point of discussion as the City looks to sustainably increase its footprint.