the buzz log

Lombard Street: It bills itself as America's crookedest road. It zigs and zags down a steep San Francisco hillside in sharp, hairpin turns. Add water to it, and it would be a super-fun water slide. Add ice and it would make a killer luge. Or, if you're a board game celebrating your 60th anniversary, then you take over the street with a giant, winding Candy Land track. Invite kids from the UCSF Children's Hospital, and you've got yourself some good, clean fun — not to mention eye candy.

Word of the supersized board game caused searches to immediately surge on "candy land lombard street."

For those of you who haven't played the Hasbro game in a while, don't worry: You'll catch on quick. The game doesn't require much reading or counting. Knowledge of colors, however, is a must. So tots, follow along: Cards are drawn, each displaying a color matching the ones on the board's track. Move your playing piece to that color on the track. First one to the end of the track wins.

The sweet little game was dreamed up by one Eleanor Abbott of San Diego, who concocted the colorful track, cards, and magical land while she recovered from polio. She imagined the game would be the perfect confection for other kids who suffered from the disease. She sent her idea off to Milton Bradley, who introduced the game in 1949. Kids have been getting a sugar buzz ever since.

Watch a video of the transformed Lombard Street.

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