"Welcome to Mario Kart. Select your player," is the greeting all '80s and '90s babies have come to know and love. Though kids today might not necessarily be familiar with Mario and Luigi, the iconic Italian video game brothers who drove their race cars straight into our hearts, you have the chance to relive a part of your childhood—if you act fast.
For those who didn't celebrate Mario Day on Mar 10 (the abbreviated date looks like "Mario," if you wondering how the celebration came to be), you still have an opportunity to pay tribute to your favorite fictional fella. Don't let anything stand in your way—not even Bowser.
Nintendo and Google joined forces beginning Mar 10 to allow your navigation indicator on Google Maps to turn into your favorite mustache-sporting Italian race car driver. When you're stuck on the BQE and won't reach your destination anywhere in the foreseeable future, you at least have a buddy to accompany you while the kids are in the back seat complaining that they're bored.
Act quickly! Mario's week-long debut will speed off on Mar 17, so if you're going to enable him on Google Maps, you better do so ASAP. In order not to miss out on the nostalgia-inducing feature, you'll have to update your Google Maps app. From there, click on the yellow “?” icon found on the bottom right of the app and you'll receive a Mario Time prompt.
As our famous friend would say, "Let's-a go!"
Your kiddos might give you some side-eye when you reminisce about Mario, but there are plenty of other things you'll both love. Check out our list of things to do in spring, visit a few museums for kids and discover fun outdoor activities for kids in NYC.
Sign up to receive great Time Out New York Kids deals in your inbox each day.