Hey, Toronto, what’s up?! Your group chat is popping off, and we’re here to keep the good times going. Welcome to another week of the Toronto Group Chat. This is your weekly rundown of the city’s biggest and hottest updates. Here, you’ll find all the stuff you actually want to share in your group chat. Every week, we’re dishing out five must-know highlights of what’s going on in the city or stories you need to know about.
Maybe people are already talking about it, or maybe you’ll start the conversation? Let your friends know.
Check out what’s new in Toronto. Let’s get into it.
Did you hear, Toronto?
Olive Garden is now open
The group chat is poppin’, the wait is over — Olive Garden is now open. I’ve been craving breadsticks since the brand first announced it was coming to the GTA.
Trips down to Buffalo are now a thing of the past, since the popular Italian-inspired chain is located at Vaughan Mills, 1 Bass Pro Mills Dr.
Olive Garden will be open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Now, who’s down to go?
FIGO no more, it’s Bar Romy now
Do you remember that Italian restaurant on the corner of John and Adelaide? FIGO? Well, it shut down less than a year ago, and it’s been empty ever since, until now.
Bar Romy, described as a “contemporary neighbourhood Italian restaurant,” is taking over the spot and it’s opening this Thursday.
Think honest Italian cooking, delicious wine, and a fantastic cocktail program. The space was designed for after-work drinks, casual dinners, and gathering with friends. And its opening comes just in time to fully embrace the summer season.
Chipotle catering is a thing in Canada
Hosting parties this summer? Or are you into meal prepping? Chipotle Canada just brought its Build-Your-Own Chipotle group meal option to Canada.
It serves four to six people (about eight or so meals if you’re in your gym era), and it’s pretty convenient to order.
Each Build-Your-Own Chipotle order comes with one protein, one rice, one bean, one premium side, a selection of toppings and salsas, shredded romaine lettuce, cheese, chips and soft tortillas.
To celebrate the launch, you can get $10 off your first Build-Your-Own Chipotle order with code “GETBYOC” when ordering through Chipotle.ca or the Chipotle app, while supplies last, or until July 8, 2026.
Canada Day is tomorrow, and fireworks are a must
Canada Day 2026 in Toronto might just be the busiest yet. It’s been wild in the city, considering Toronto’s hosting the FIFA World Cup, and visitors from all over the world are exploring the streets.
The City of Toronto is hosting a day of free, family-friendly programming in the city, with the day ending with fireworks.
Expect a number of daytime activities in parks, public squares and even Toronto History Museum experiences. I made a guide to help make your Canada Day easier.
The Ontario Science Centre’s new temporary home is now open
If you needed something fun to do besides all the FIFA excitement, the Ontario Science Centre has a new interim space at the Harbourfront Centre.
The new space will offer indoor and outdoor science and technology programming for visitors of all ages. It will also support waterfront tourism and STEM education until the new, permanent Ontario Science Centre opens at Ontario Place in 2029, according to its Instagram page.
And that’s all for now, Toronto. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered for next week. See you then!
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Karen Doradea
Managing Editor, Toronto – Karen is a multimedia journalist based in Toronto. With a strong knowledge of reporting and editing through all forms of media, she has a true passion for storytelling. She carries several years of journalistic experience and has covered the Toronto scene from local stories to national news. When Karen isn’t publishing fire content, you can find her binge-watching sitcoms on Crave, at a must-try restaurant, or scrolling endlessly on TikTok looking for the next best thing – News never sleeps.
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