Feb 19, 2014

Concord’s YoYo HeavenBy Stacy MilbouerNHMagazine.com

Concord, NH – Since it first dangled in ancient Greece about 500 BC, the popularity of the yo-yo has had its downs and ups. The Marquis de Lafayette was known to dabble in the arcane art in the drawing rooms of pre-revolutionary France; Duncan Yo-Yos were all the rage during the Great Depression and the Age of Aquarius. And now those cunning, spinning orbs are on the upswing again throughout the country and the Granite State. Pretty cool for a 2,500-plus-year-old, low-tech toy.

The opening of the specialty shop YoYo Heaven in Concord last year is proof of the resurgent trend in New Hampshire. It’s a small nirvana for yo-yo (a phrase that means “come-come” in Filipino) aficionados and those with fond memories of hours spent dangling a Duncan at the end of string. It’s also an education for those who want to get introduced to the sport and a go-to for what the shop owners call “skill toys” — those involving tactile, no-tech objects and activity including yo-yoing, as well as Tech Deck (fingerboards), juggling items, Astrojax and professional-grade paddle balls to name a few.

Read complete article »