Danielle Mathias/IFC
August 12, 2013
In The Mix

Shop Hop

Ever wonder about the inspiration for Portlandia’s quirky shops?

Paula Hendrickson

Ever wonder about the inspiration for Portlandia’s quirky shops? Many are based on Portland’s own array of offbeat retailers.

The IFC show’s feminist bookstore, Women & Women First, is loosely based on Portland’s In Other Words, a feminist bookshop that’s been in business for twenty years. At one time it was one of 200 feminist bookstores in the U.S.; now it’s one of fewer than thirty.

Guest star Jeff Goldblum has played the proprietor of two Portlandia stores: Artisan Knots (season two) and the Doily Shoppe (season three). Vendors at Portland’s Crafty Wonderland, a twice-yearly event showcasing handmade goods from local artists, inspired the pretend shops.

Sometimes actual businesses appear on the show, like when a scavenger hunt led teams to Voodoo Doughnut, known for flavors such as bacon-maple, Tang and bubblegum.

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