The Toronto Group Chat: What your friends are talking about this week (March 17)

Your group chat is buzzin’, Toronto! And we’re here to keep it 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.

Maybe people are already talking about it, or maybe you’ll start the conversation? Let your crew know.

Check out what’s new in Toronto. Let’s get into it!

Did you hear, Toronto?

Marugame Udon finally opened in the city. You have to go!

Who’s hungry? This famous Japanese spot known for its handmade udon just opened its first Toronto location. It’s called Marugame Udon, and it’s a cafeteria-style spot where you can see your udon noodles being made. The team serves its signature handcrafted Sanuki-style udon bowls, and they’re delicious. I had a chance to try it before its grand opening, and I’ll be going again.

You can also try some of its karaage chicken, as well as its shrimp and vegetable tempura, from its hot bar.

But if that’s not enough to convince you, Marugame Udon is giving away four $250 gift cards. You just have to visit the new location and sign up for a chance to win. Winners will be announced on April 30, 2026.

What’s with this weather, Toronto? 

So the first day of spring is literally a few days away, and suddenly Mother Nature decided we needed some more snow. According to The Weather Network (TWN), “a series of fast-moving storms” is hitting Ontario throughout the week. Just what we needed! And it’s leading into the weekend. It’s all thanks to a “mild Pacific air, driven by an ongoing atmospheric river in B.C. and a high-pressure system in the western U.S.”

We just got a taste of it last night (had to chip off ice from my car this morning), and it will come back Thursday, bringing a mix of rain and snow. And then on Friday, the first day of spring, we’ll be hit with a second clipper with flurries and possible rain across southern Ontario, or so TWN says.

RuPaul is coming to the waterfront this summer

How can you dwell on this weather when RuPaul is coming to Toronto this summer!? It was just announced! The icon and Queen of Drag, RuPaul, will take over the concert stage at Harbourfront Centre for a live DJ set on Aug. 22, 2026.

Okay, it’s a few months away, but we can’t help but get excited. Tickets to RuPaul go on sale this week. If you want to hop on the presale, it starts at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 19.

Code is SAYLOVE26

‘Peaky Blinders’ is taking over a Toronto pub for three days because why not

Have you seen Peaky Blinders? The series’ new movie, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, is now in theatres, and to celebrate, Netflix is bringing its fictional pub, The Garrison, to life from March 20 to 22, 2026.

Popular Ossington Street bar Man of Kent will transform into the Peaky-inspired English pub for a limited time. Think show-inspired cocktails and temporary tattoos, to play the part, of course.

And don’t forget to pose like a Shelby for your own Peaky portrait.

Before you go, it’s important to note that this is a 19+ event and capacity is limited. Entry will be allowed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eat free ice cream for a good cause

Let’s be real, we never need an excuse to go to Dairy Queen – you just have to go when the cravings hit! But if you’re not impulsive like me and save the trip for special occasions, here’s one.

Thursday, March 19, is Free Cone Day at Dairy Queen, and DQ Rewards members can get one free small Vanilla cone by redeeming the deal in the app.

And on top of that, you can also opt into “Dip it for Kids” by adding any dip to your cone for $1. All the proceeds go directly to local children’s hospitals across Canada through the Children’s Miracle Network.

How sweet is that?

That’s all for now, Toronto. Don’t worry, we’re sure we’ll have more deets to share next week.

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Karen Doradea

Senior Staff Writer, 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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