Lindi Ortega (March 16)

Canadian Country Music Award winner, she has worked with musicians like K.D. Lang and Carrie Underwood before. Her raw vocal power and roots rhythm is not to miss.

Northern Lights Folk Club (March 24)

Featuring singer, songwriter and guitarist Roy Forbes.

Anneke’s Antique Sale (March 30 – 31)

More than 130 collections of antiques and old glories from vintage jewellery to furniture are for sale.

Adding an eye catching and stunning rug in your living room can automatically elevate your home. Check out some of the design trends for floor rugs this year.

Homeowners in Edmonton began receiving their 2018 property assessment notices in the mail at the beginning of the year.

By now, everyone should have received one and have a clear idea of the assessed value of their property. This is important because this value determines the property taxes that must be paid.

Property assessments in Edmonton were fairly stable this year, with an average increase of less than one per cent compared to last year.

The one exception was single-family detached homes in neighbourhoods along the river valley like Windsor Park, Quesnell Heights, Glenora and Oliver.

You can look up different property assessments on the City of Edmonton’s website to compare different 2018 property assessments.

In order to assess the value of the property, a number of key factors such as location, size, land surface, age and condition of the building are taken into consideration.

A large increase in property assessments does not always translate into a corresponding increase in property taxes, however. It also takes into account changes relative to your community. 

Property taxes in Edmonton make up about half of all revenue that the City receives. It helps fund essential services like police, fire fighting and emergency rescue. They also support community programs, recreation centres, public libraries, parks and much more.

Property taxes bills arrive in May and must be paid by June 30.

They can be paid in multiple ways; in person, online banking, credit card or cheque. You can set up a Property Tax Monthly Payment Plan to avoid paying them all at once.

Assessments can be appealed up through a customer review period until March 12, 2018. A complaint can be made online or in person about property assessment, but you cannot appeal your property tax bill.

From smart watches to smart kettles, technology is entering homes at the speed of light.

One of the biggest home technology trends for 2018 is that devices now provide many uses — just one function won’t cut it anymore.

A new voice activated mirror recently came out that changes the lighting, tells you the weather and plays music as you get ready. There’s a door alert system that not only provides lighting but also extends the home’s wifi.

Part of it is an issue of space and availability of outlets — why buy an item that only does one thing when the same sized device does many functions?

Home security is a key example of how technology in the home is taking off.

Many of the security systems on offer are fully integrated and often include functions that are not typically associated with home safety like lighting and doorbell ring tones.

Almost all the systems now include an option to lock and unlock doors and keep an eye on the situation remotely via wifi.

Technology is not always cheap but when used right can help you save money in the long run.

For example, monitoring devices can help curb energy use because it gives you real-time data. Smart thermostats and lighting systems, which are programmable, can also help save money by only using energy when you need it.

Simple safety improvements like smart thermostats, smart fire detectors and smart carbon monoxide detectors are a bonus when selling a home too.

A survey by Smart Home Marketplace recently found that 70 per cent of homebuyers want these kinds of features in a home and so a few inexpensive touches can really make it stand out to buyers.

Silver Skate Festival (Feb. 9 – 19)

Nearly three decades of sports celebrations, this festival is rooted in Dutch tradition and love of winter.

Proteus Saxophone Quarter (Feb. 17)

Redefining the tradition of saxophone in this vibrant and vivacious concert.

Indian-inspired meals (Feb. 22)

Who needs to order in when you can learn to make your own delicious meals.

Intersect (Feb. 23 – 24)

Dynamic ballet performance, bringing together two very different pieces.

Swing n’ skate (until Feb. 25)

Local bands bring the swinging, the swaying and the jazz to this free event every Sunday.

The holidays may be over but stock your bar with these chic and beautifully designed champagne glasses you can bring out to celebrate those memorable moments with loved ones.