50 Great Ideas

Local broadcast

With a menu that highlights locally grown products, it’s only natural that Vancouver, Washington-based Burgerville would showcase Northwest artists on its in-restaurant music programming. Launched last fall, BV Radio plays tunes from local bands such as the Decemberists, Radiation City and Blind Pilot in all of the chain’s 38 restaurants. Listeners can also tune into BV Radio on the Internet.

“Supporting local businesses and community is one of our core values,” says Burgerville president and CEO Jeff Harvey, who plays the guitar himself. He hopes the in-house radio will offer fledgling musicians a chance to be heard. Artists can drop off audition CDs at chain headquarters.

Besides music, BV Radio streams performances from Oregon Public Broadcasting’s LiveWire!, and may simulcast local sports games. And Burgerville has released a compilation CD of local artists. Called Shaker Sessions, it will be sold in restaurants with proceeds going to a foundation to aid Parkinson’s patients.

#50 | Using your noodle

#49 | Eat a pita, feed a kid

#48 | Ask the staff chaplain

#47 | I’ll be calling you

#46 | Rolling in dough

#45 | Fried chicken flies the coop

#44 | A penny for your calories

#43 | Better than a lobster bib

#42 | Bending the bento

#41 | Billboard redux

#40 | Dining at the fountain of youth

#39 | Building a better box

#38 | Roll out the barrel

#37 | Mochi Madness

#36 | A toast to Belgium

#35 | Screening employees on the screen

#34 | An Olive Garden customer sat here

#33 | Setting the e-table

#32 | The buck strolls here

#31 | Gin game

#30 | Childhood revisited

#29 | Moveable feast

#28 | Certified gluten free

#27 | Buy a car, eat a meal

#26 | Locating the best Happy Hour

#25 | Local broadcast

#24 | Tabletop taps

#23 | Double the pleasure

#22 | The three Bs

#21 | Cocktails to amuse

#20 | Fans of the grape

#19 | Whole animal accessorizing

#18 | Translucent menus

#17 | Have oven will cater

#16 | Allergic interaction

#15 | Greener produce

#14 | Competing to win at weight loss

#13 | Space saver

#12 | Test kitchen=test market

#11 | Be my guest

#10 | Plug in and eat up

#9 | Rx for pilferers

#8 | Hands free—and clean

#7 | Some like it too hot

#6 | Chicken fried steak gets its day

#5 | The staff that reads together…

#4 | Twinkle toast

#3 | Stick with this

#2 | Stamp of approval

#1 | From seed to fork

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Local broadcast

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