Calgary Lifestyle Guide with Anastasia Dvorak

08/17/2026

📍 Calgary's hardest reservation right now? Francine's. 🇫🇷🧀

This little French bar tucked into Chinatown has quickly become one of my favourite spots in the city, and honestly, it's not hard to see why. Cozy, lively, and full of flavour, with old-world cocktails and French-inspired small plates that keep people coming back.

Do not skip the Cheese Puffs or the Steak Frites, but the real star is the French Toast, topped with real French cheese, honey caramel, and honey ice cream. It's so good it's become the signature dish here.

Fun fact: this place is SO cheesy, they keep Lactaid pills on hand for guests (market price) 😂

I ended up going in person to reserve since I wanted a specific date and it was already booking up online. Read the full review here 👉 https://calgarylifestyleguide.com/trendy-vibes-cheesy-perfection-why-francines-is-worth-the-hype/

Follow along for more Calgary food, neighbourhoods, hidden gems, and your best life in Calgary!

Discover Via Cibo in Calgary for fresh, from scratch Italian street food, family friendly dining, patio seating, three convenient locations.

08/17/2026

Calgary’s best kept French secret 🇫🇷🧀

Great cocktails, French-inspired small plates, and a cozy vibe in the heart of Chinatown. Don’t skip the French toast — it comes with real French cheese on top and it’s incredible.

📍 FRACINE’s - 306 Centre St S, Calgary

Follow Anastasia Dvorak ▪️ Calgary Realtor & PM▪️Lifestyle Blogger for more Calgary food, hidden gems, neighbourhoods & everything Calgary living 🏡

07/07/2026

🤠 The Calgary Stampede is back! 🎡🌭

Whether you’re visiting Calgary for the first time or you’ve been coming for years, there’s always something new to discover at the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!

In this guide you’ll find:
🎢 Fun facts you probably didn’t know
🌮 The weirdest midway foods of 2026
🍔 Classic Stampede must-eats
🥤 The best drinks to cool off with
🧅 Why the Colossal Onion is still a fan favourite
📊 Interesting Stampede stats and attendance records

From giant lemonades and BBQ to bug-covered desserts and deep-fried everything, there’s something for every appetite.

👇 What’s your must-have Stampede food?
Are you team Mini Donuts, Turkey Legs, Colossal Onion, or do you always try the newest crazy creation?

Save this post for your next visit and send it to someone who’s heading to the Stampede! ❤️

06/09/2026

Thinking about moving to Calgary’s west side? 👀

West Springs continues to be one of Calgary’s most sought-after communities, and it’s easy to see why. Top-rated schools, parks, green space, shopping, grocery stores, coffee shops, and everything you need are just minutes away.

Today I had the opportunity to showcase this beautiful townhouse in the desirable Wentworth area of West Springs. If you’re looking for low-maintenance living in one of Calgary’s most desirable west-side communities, this one is worth a look.

📍24-9000 Wentworth Avenue SW
🏡 MLS® A2311122

This property is listed by Ryan Assen and Ricky Easthope with Real Broker.

If you’d like more information or would like to book a private showing, feel free to reach out to Ryan or me. We’d be happy to help.

05/13/2026

One of Calgary’s hardest reservations to get… and now I understand why. 🍝 Definitely one of those spots worth planning ahead for. They mentioned the best way to get in is to either book online well in advance or stop by in person to make a reservation because tables go FAST.

📍DOPO3511 14 St SW, Calgaryyyc

05/10/2026

Looking for a Mother’s Day gift that actually feels thoughtful? ☕🤍

Fratello renamed their classic Godfather Espresso into Goodmother Espresso just for Mother’s Day, and honestly… this is the perfect gift for moms who love coffee and will actually enjoy it.

04/14/2026

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗴𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 - April 2026
𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿
If your main goal is to maximize price, this is likely not the strongest moment to sell a condo or townhouse. Inventory is higher and values in some areas are 5-10% lower than early 2025 levels, with some pockets seeing larger adjustments. If you have flexibility, waiting for tighter supply could put you in a better position.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗽𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲
If you’re moving up into a detached home, the math changes. You might sell your condo or townhouse for less than peak pricing, but detached homes have also adjusted. In many cases, the gap between property types has narrowed, which can make upgrading more achievable than it was a year ago.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝘆
For buyers, this is one of the more favourable windows we’ve seen in a while. Inventory is higher, competition is lower and many properties have adjusted from 2024 and early 2025 peaks.

For example, some detached homes in areas like Sage Hill that were reaching around $670,000 in summer 2025 are now selling closer to $650,000 or below, depending on condition and location. Overall, buyers have more negotiating power and more choice.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘃𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁
If selling right now doesn’t make sense but you’ve already moved or need to move, renting the property out can be a practical option. Some owners are choosing to rent their condo or townhouse for a year or so and then reassess the market later.

I run a property management company and this is something I’m currently helping several clients with. We rent the property out, place a strong tenant, and revisit selling when conditions improve. Many owners rent for a year and then sell once the market tightens again.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿
Market conditions are shifting and they vary significantly by property type and neighbourhood. If you want to understand what this means for your situation, feel free to reach out. I can provide a clear breakdown of how current market trends may affect your buying or selling plans in Calgary and the surrounding areas.

Anastasia Dvorak, Calgary Lifestyle Guide
Realtor & Property Manager,
CIR REALTY
403.835.3913
[email protected]

04/11/2026

🚪 OPEN HOUSE IN OKOTOKS 👀

Come see this stunning 2024 home in Ranchers Rise in person in Okotoks!

📍 60 Ranchers View, Okotoks

🗓️ Saturday & Sunday, April 11–12
⏰ 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Priced at $649,900

This one stands out for a reason 👇

✨ No rear neighbours
✨ Backs onto open prairie views
✨ Nearly 1,900 sq ft of modern living
✨ 3 bedrooms + bonus room
✨ Bright open-concept layout
✨ White kitchen with quartz + stainless steel
✨ Central A/C + tankless hot water

If you’ve been waiting for a newer home with privacy + clean modern finishes, this is the one to see.

👋 Stop by this weekend or message me for more details

Anastasia Dvorak
Calgary Realtor & Property Manager
Calgary Lifestyle Guide
CIR REALTY
📞 403.835.6913

03/27/2026

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