Welcome to Super Nintendo World Immersive experience stressed at newest land at Universal Studios Hollywood

Mattei: Portrait of a Community” is on view now through May at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, which is located in downtown Santa Barbara at 136 E. De la Guerra St. Admission is free. Hours are currently from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and from noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, visit www.sbhistorical. org

7 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

FEB. 25

1:30 and 7 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

FEB. 26

By DAVE MASON

MANAGING EDITOR

Walking into Super Nintendo World is like entering a totally immersive video game.

This writer discovered that on the media preview day, which took place before Universal Studios Hollywood’s newest land opened last weekend in the theme park’s lower lot.

Visitors walk through a giant green pipe and onto a colorful landscape complete with castles, giant mushrooms, colorful Piranha Plants and, of course, Mario and Luigi and Princess Peach, who will pose with you for photos.

The real excitement begins when you walk into Bowser’s Castle and onto Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride. This is where Super Nintendo World gets truly immersive. You collect digital coins or points on this ride, but whatever your score, this experience is far better than anything you would encounter in your typical arcade.

Inspired by the Mario Kart video game series, the ride features both augmented reality on your goggles and actual set pieces along the track.

During this ride, you go through underwater courses and courses in the clouds to compete for the Golden Cup while collecting digital coins to defeat Team Bowser.

While Mario Kart is the big attraction, another one is equally fun in a different way. In the Battle with Bowser Jr., you stand in front of a curtain. Your shadow becomes your avatar. To win, you must duck under the shadow images of Bullet Bills, punch Bomb-Ombs and throw fireballs. Be sure to jump and touch the shadow of the “? Blocks”! Do that, and the shadow of your body will become much taller than you. You have to throw your whole body into this game.

When you enter Super Nintendo World, you can buy a Power-Up Band, which goes around your wrist. You use it to make contact with various blocks, lifesize clocks and more to collect “coins” or points.

When riding Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, guests can tap their Power-Up

Band on the ride vehicle’s steering wheel. By doing so, they can track digital coins collected as well as check their ranking against friends and family, when synced to the app.

The world’s careful theming continues into the Toadstool Cafe, where, to be consistent with the Mushroom Kingdom, mushrooms are part of the menu. Hungry for a Super Mushroom Soup? You can also try the Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots, Piranha Plant Caprese, Mario Bacon Cheeseburger (complete with a mustache on the bun and a little cap), Luigi Pesto Chicken Burger, ? Block Tiramisu and Princess Peach Cupcake.

And, of course, there’s a gift shop, the 1-Up Factory.

Overall, this land is a charming corner that can appeal to the kid in anyone. (Just don’t forget, when necessary, to jump and duck!) email: dmason@newspress.com

1 p.m. A vigil to honor victims and survivors of recent mass shootings in California will take place at the corner of State and Anapamu streets in Santa Barbara.

1:30 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa. org or call the box office at 805922-8313.

MARCH 2

7:30 p.m. The Miro Quartet will perform at Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Admission is $20 for museum members and $25 for nonmembers.

MARCH 4

7:30 p.m. The State Street Ballet will perform “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” at 7:30 p.m. at The Granada, 1214 State St. TIckets cost $38 to $106. To purchase, go to granadasb.org or call the box office at 805-899-2222.

— Dave Mason