Situated through an unassuming doorway at 22 S.W. Third Avenue, Voodoo Doughnuts offers a brazen array of abnormal, yet surprisingly tasty doughnuts… Oh, and they cater impromptu weddings, too.
At a time when the entire nation seems aflame with an insatiable appetite for doughnuts, Voodoo owners Tres Shannon and Kenneth Pogson have found a nitch. On May 31, Voodoo opened its doors and unleashed a merciless attack on conventional doughnutry. With their use of outrageous ingredients such as NyQuil, Pepto-Bismol and chunks of cherry-flavored Tums, Shannon and Pogson reveal their willingness to push the envelope and expand the minds of Stumptown’s doughnut-hungry populace. While the FDA required them to drop some of these offerings, the lineup remains far from ordinary.
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I’ll admit I was apprehensive when I first tried some of the more adventurous varieties: Fruit Loops, Cocoa Puffs, Orange Tang, and Strawberry Nesquick. But I implore you not to be frightened by the idea of such bizarre concoctions; some are quite tasty. The Triple Chocolate Penetration smeared with chocolate frosting and topped with Cocoa Puffs ain’t bad, and the Vanilla Frosted with Fruit Loops brings about a nostalgic, Saturday-morning-cartoon euphoria that you can’t get anywhere else. The Coffee-a-GoGo with caffeine, accompanied by a fresh cup of Stumptown coffee, may be the perfect treat to get you through crunch-week this year.
Not all Voodoo’s creations are outrageous, though; they offer many run-of-the-mill varieties as well. Their Old-Fashioned and Buttermilk Bars are delicious, and the cottony-soft Glazed Raised yields a satisfyingly sweet reward, especially after a couple Oly tall boys. Did I mention Voodoo is open from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and is conveniently located between the Paris Theater and Berbati’s Pan?
Pogson and Shannon chose their location and unusual hours in the hopes of attracting Portland’s bar life. In fact, they are no strangers to this scene; Pogson participates in Portland Organic Wrestling while Shannon fronts a Rolling Stones cover band and “Karaoke from Hell” Monday nights at Dante’s. For this reason, Pogson says, “The night crowd just came. We are both performers, so attracting this crowd was easy.”
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To make their doughnuts available to a wider audience, Voodoo recently extended their hours and is open from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. daily, hoping to attract local business. They also offer downtown delivery when possible.
Both Pogson and Shannon are certified, via the Internet, to preside over legal wedding unions. That’s right, just bring in a marriage certificate, and for $175 Voodoo offers one legal wedding with doughnuts and coffee for 10. For those rolling stones out there who aren’t quite ready for the real thing, Voodoo offers an “Intentional Commitment” option for a reduced rate of only $20.
Voodoo’s motto proclaims “the magic is in the hole,” but I believe the magic of this unique oasis is found in its originality and flamboyance. It’s also the only place you can get legally married while munching on a Tangfantastic. To schedule your imprumptu wedding call 503-241-4704.