(bright electronic music) - Hello, and welcome to "Expressions on the Road."

I'm your host, Adara Alston.

For this episode, we are visiting the North Star House, located in the heart of Ithaca's Fall Creek.

Over the next half hour, we will talk with owner Jed Ashton about what makes this local business unique, and also featured a concert from singer-songwriter Amber Martin.

All next on "Expressions on the Road."

(bright gentle music) - Funding for this program is provided in part by viewers like you, thank you.

- [Adara] For the past 15 years, the North Star House has billed itself as a true neighborhood establishment, a place where locals can enjoy a hearty meal, a frosty beverage, and great conversation.

Now, did you always dream of owning a restaurant?

- Absolutely not.

(laughing) It's something that we've learned as we're getting into it.

None of the three owners had any real restaurant experience.

We wanted a place that we could go out as adults.

We were aging out of the downtown bars, wanted to have a place that we could go out and still have a good time, and be with our peers.

We started looking around, and it took us about two years to find this location.

(bright relaxed music) - [Adara] The name North Star, where's that come from?

What's the historical context of it?

- So many different layers to that.

Being in Ithaca, which was a stop on the Underground Railroad, we felt that it was important to acknowledge that history.

It's also the name of the newspaper from Frederick Douglas, which was produced just in Rochester.

We are on the north end of town, I believe are still the furthest north restaurant, so we wanted to let people know where we were.

But really the idea of being a place of refuge, and being a place where people can come and feel recognized and welcome, was something that we always wanted to be.

- Jed is always looking to share his venue with the community, and North Star's backyard is a perfect spot to relax, play some games, and enjoy great concerts.

For this episode, we feature a performance from singer-songwriter Amber Martin.

This self-taught guitarist has been performing for close to 10 years, and released her debut album "Honey Eyes" in 2021.

♪ See a river grow in the way you move ♪ ♪ When your mind is on the run ♪ ♪ I see a lilac field in the way you dress ♪ ♪ And your eyes light up the sun ♪ ♪ I see the wind blow in your face ♪ ♪ I always thought you'd stay ♪ ♪ I see your beauty beneath me, I see it all ♪ ♪ Oh I get there when I get there ♪ ♪ Oh I'll say it all ♪ ♪ If I'm not great at speaking ♪ ♪ I can sing it in a song ♪ ♪ 'Cause I know you love me ♪ ♪ I know you want me to fall ♪ ♪ I see a creepy sky in the way you move ♪ ♪ When the ocean moves your feet ♪ ♪ I see the wind in your hair and the way you don't care ♪ ♪ When you finally think you're free ♪ ♪ I see the wind blow in your face ♪ ♪ I always thought you'd stay ♪ ♪ I see the beauty beneath me, I see it all ♪ ♪ And I get there when I get there ♪ ♪ Oh, I'll say it all ♪ ♪ I'm not great at speaking ♪ ♪ So I sing it in a song ♪ ♪ I know you love me ♪ ♪ I know you want me to fall ♪ ♪ See the river grow in the way you move ♪ ♪ When your mind is on the run ♪ ♪ See a lilac field in the way you dress ♪ ♪ And your eyes lights up the sun ♪ ♪ I see the wind blow in your face ♪ ♪ I always thought you'd stay ♪ ♪ I see your beauty beneath me, I see it all ♪ ♪ I get there when I get there ♪ ♪ Oh, I'll say it all ♪ ♪ I'm not great at speaking ♪ ♪ So I'll sing it in a song ♪ ♪ I know you love me ♪ ♪ I know you want me to fall ♪ (audience cheering) - Thank you, guys.

♪ I'm your honey eyes, but honey ♪ ♪ I can't seem to figure out ♪ ♪ Why your loving never comes my way ♪ ♪ And when it does, it screams and it shouts ♪ ♪ I can't connect with anyone around here ♪ ♪ I seem to connect better when I have to steer ♪ ♪ My world is turning, my wheels are burning ♪ ♪ If I knew now what I knew then ♪ ♪ Well, I haven't quite figured you out ♪ ♪ I haven't quite figured it out yet ♪ ♪ We're all just trying to get by ♪ ♪ Trading in on borrowed time ♪ ♪ In the morning we both wake up ♪ ♪ Like the sun, we'll rise and shine yeah ♪ ♪ Like the sun, we'll rise and shine yeah ♪ ♪ There'll be better times in my mind ♪ ♪ I'm your honey eyes, but honey ♪ ♪ I can't seem to figure out ♪ ♪ Why your loving never comes my way ♪ ♪ And when it does, it screams and it shouts ♪ ♪ And I can't connect with anyone around here ♪ ♪ I seem to connect better when I have to steer ♪ ♪ My world is turning, my wheels are burning ♪ ♪ If I knew now what I knew then, well ♪ ♪ I haven't quite figured it out ♪ ♪ Oh, I haven't quite figured it out, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm your honey eyes, but honey ♪ ♪ I can't seem to figure out ♪ ♪ Why our loving never came my way ♪ ♪ What it did was it screams and it shouts ♪ ♪ And I can't connect with anyone around here ♪ ♪ Oh, I seem to connect better when I have to steer ♪ ♪ My world is turning, my wheels are burning ♪ ♪ If I knew now what I knew then ♪ ♪ Well, I haven't quite figured it out yet ♪ (audience applauding) (soft thoughtful music) - We are a place where folks can come in, and if you're a vegan, but you're eating with someone who's on a, you know, a meat only diet, we can serve you.

You know, we have everything from gluten-free, to gluten-full mac and cheese.

We're known for having tofu wings, which is unusual.

We call it our gateway to tofu.

And now we're expanding, we're adding more dishes that are based primarily on local vegetables, which is something that our most current chef, Nathan Miller, has been able to really hone in on, which is exciting.

(soft thoughtful music continues) Working with farmers allows us to build relationships with our community, and make our community stronger.

It means that we're not relying on people shipping in a bunch of stuff.

A good example, we get our romaine from Silver Queen Farms in Trumansburg, and we made a decision, if they didn't have it, then we weren't gonna use it.

Just the quality was so much higher.

Just being able to be in a community where there are strong local businesses, is very, very important to us.

♪ I'm taking bets ♪ ♪ I'm taking shots right to the chest ♪ ♪ Take this bloody knuckled heart, lay to rest ♪ ♪ I'll take the blame ♪ ♪ I'll take the shame right out your lungs ♪ ♪ Take this broken-hearted love, let it die ♪ ♪ 'Cause I thought you were the one ♪ ♪ I've had regrets ♪ ♪ So many things I've done said ♪ ♪ Now they're running through my head late at night ♪ ♪ I've had regrets ♪ ♪ So many things I've done said ♪ ♪ Now they're running through my head late at night ♪ ♪ I've had regrets ♪ ♪ So much emotion through my chest ♪ ♪ Serotonin in my in bed late at night ♪ ♪ 'Cause I thought you were the one ♪ ♪ In retrospect, I'm glad you broke it off ♪ ♪ It was raining in your car when you did ♪ ♪ The flame died, you were honesty itself ♪ ♪ Why did you have to drag me down and say farewell ♪ ♪ 'Cause I thought you were the one ♪ ♪ I'm taking bets ♪ ♪ I'm taking shots right to the chest ♪ ♪ I'll take this bloody-knuckled heart, lay to rest ♪ ♪ I'll take the blame ♪ ♪ I'll take the shame right out your lungs ♪ ♪ Take this broken-hearted love and let it die ♪ ♪ 'Cause I thought you were the one ♪ (audience cheering) ♪ You came over just to talk to me ♪ ♪ I knew then that you wanted me ♪ ♪ I like your smile and your shiny watch ♪ ♪ I wanna kiss you in the parking lot ♪ ♪ Then you told me to tie my shoes ♪ ♪ Don't forget, most everything you lose ♪ ♪ 'Cause I know the way you are ♪ ♪ You're clumsy as hell, ooh ♪ ♪ And I can tell by the way you stare ♪ ♪ You're falling hard, you wanna care ♪ ♪ You're always up and your thoughts are running ♪ ♪ You wanna love me but the past it haunting you ♪ ♪ So I take your hand and I promise you ♪ ♪ I'll always be there when you need me to ♪ ♪ I pull you in closer, babe ♪ ♪ I promise everything will be okay ♪ ♪ I wanna take you up the highest mountain ♪ ♪ So we can come down and laugh about it ♪ ♪ Later on when we're telling stories ♪ ♪ Maybe everyone will see our glorious ways ♪ ♪ So drink your beer and you tell me things ♪ ♪ How like you're scared with new beginnings ♪ ♪ And you're afraid of growing old ♪ ♪ What the hell are we living for ♪ ♪ I wanna take you up the highest mountain ♪ ♪ So we can come down and laugh about it ♪ ♪ Later on when we're telling stories ♪ ♪ Maybe everyone will see our glorious ways ♪ ♪ And I can tell by the way you stare ♪ ♪ You're falling hard, and you want to care ♪ ♪ You're always up and your thoughts are running ♪ ♪ You wanna love me, but the past is haunting you ♪ ♪ So I take your hand and I promise you ♪ ♪ I'll always be there when you need me to ♪ ♪ I pull you in closer, babe ♪ ♪ I promise everything will be okay ♪ ♪ I wanna take you up the highest mountain ♪ ♪ So we can come down and laugh about it ♪ ♪ Later on when we're telling stories ♪ ♪ Maybe everyone will see our glorious ways ♪ (audience applauding) (bright upbeat music) (ice shaking) - I'm really enjoying this mocktail, it is delicious.

Can you tell us a little bit more about what you do, as far as cocktail drinks that are non-alcoholic?

- It's one of the changes that we've noticed in our business since we've opened.

When we first opened, primarily people came here for beer, a little bit of wine, but now, in the last several years, we've noticed people really, they want a cocktail, and so we have a very good cocktail program.

And as we were developing that, we realized that there's a large market of people who don't drink.

And as part of our goal of being inclusive for everyone, we realized we needed to pay attention to that as well.

So we've developed several delicious mocktails, or non-alcoholic cocktails, and it's something that we take a lotta pride in.

It's not something where we're slapping together orange juice and soda water.

We spend as much time figuring out how to make our mocktails, as we do any of our other drinks.

- Excellent, and people like me appreciate it.

(laughing) ♪ I've been holding back ♪ ♪ Words inside my head, I know it ♪ ♪ You can take your time ♪ ♪ You're heavy on my mind, my darling ♪ ♪ I knew the night we met ♪ ♪ 'Cause I couldn't forget that feeling ♪ ♪ You're heavy on my chest ♪ ♪ And I can feel your breath on my skin ♪ ♪ You're heavy on my chest ♪ ♪ And I can feel your breath on my skin ♪ ♪ I'm taking my time, I'm taking my time with love ♪ ♪ I'm taking my time, I'm taking my time in your arms ♪ ♪ I'm taking my time, don't want you holding back ♪ ♪ Baby, I want it all ♪ ♪ I'm taking my time, don't want you holding back ♪ ♪ Baby, I want it all ♪ ♪ There's something about your eyes ♪ ♪ Give me that surprise, I love you ♪ ♪ There's something about your eyes ♪ ♪ Give me that surprise, I love you ♪ ♪ There's nothing like the weight ♪ ♪ The weight of all the words, I love you ♪ ♪ And I was gonna wait ♪ ♪ But I could escape if I tried to ♪ ♪ I feel it in my bones ♪ ♪ I lose control around you ♪ ♪ There's something about the past ♪ ♪ Nothing ever lasts before you ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm taking my time, I'm taking my time with love ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm taking my time, I'm taking my time in your arms ♪ ♪ I'm taking my time, want you on a dime ♪ ♪ Baby, I want it all ♪ ♪ I'm taking my time, want you on a dime ♪ ♪ Baby, I want it all ♪ ♪ Everyone's asking, who's Gabby, who's Gabby ♪ ♪ Everyone's asking, who's Gabby, who's Gabby ♪ ♪ I said, she's beautiful, she's intelligent, she's kind ♪ ♪ And I had everyone's everyone else by my side ♪ ♪ 'Cause I've been holding back ♪ ♪ Words inside my head, I know it ♪ ♪ And you can take your time ♪ ♪ You're heavy on my mind, my darling ♪ ♪ I knew the night we met ♪ ♪ I couldn't forget that feeling ♪ ♪ You're heavy on my chest ♪ ♪ And I can feel your breath on my skin ♪ ♪ You're heavy on my chest ♪ ♪ I can feel your breath on my skin ♪ ♪ You're heavy on my chest ♪ ♪ I can feel your breath on my skin ♪ ♪ You're heavy on my chest ♪ ♪ I can feel your breath on my skin ♪ (audience applauding) - [Adara] What brings you the most satisfaction, as far as owning North Star?

- Well, I would say what gives me the most satisfaction is seeing the community that comes in, and seeing how it aligns with what we thought it would be.

So we have families coming in early and hanging out, and then adults coming in a little bit later.

And then some nights it's, you know, people staying and partying, which is sort of a reflection of what we envisioned when we first started.

- I wanna thank Jed and the team at North Star House for their help in putting the show together.

For more information about the venue, you can visit their website, northstarpub.com.

We leave you with one more performance from Amber Martin.

Until next time, this is Adara Alston.

Thanks for watching.

♪ Give me all you got, and a bottle of booze ♪ ♪ Tell me all your stories, drink a bottle or two ♪ ♪ I've got time, I've got time ♪ ♪ Running from your problems, that's what you do ♪ ♪ I'm headed to the valley, I got nothing to prove ♪ ♪ I got time, I've got time ♪ ♪ Put me in a fire, I'll let it burn ♪ ♪ 'Cause I won't feel it, I just wanna hurt ♪ ♪ Put me in a fire, I'll let it burn ♪ ♪ If I won't feel it, I won't feel my worth ♪ ♪ And I'm just stopping by ♪ ♪ I'm just stopping by to steal your shirt ♪ ♪ If you dig a little deep you'll see that I been burned ♪ ♪ Had so many years of getting hurt ♪ ♪ Time after time, time after time, I'm laying low ♪ ♪ Put me in a fire, I already burn ♪ ♪ If I won't feel it, I just wanna hurt ♪ ♪ Put me in a fire, I already burn ♪ ♪ And I'm just stopping by ♪ ♪ I'm just stopping by to steal your heart ♪ ♪ I'm just stopping by ♪ ♪ I'm just stopping by to steal your heart ♪ ♪ So give me all you got, and a bottle of booze ♪ ♪ Tell me all your stories, drink a bottle or two ♪ ♪ I've got time, I've got time ♪ ♪ Put me in the fire, I'll let it burn ♪ ♪ If I wanna feel it, I just wanna hurt ♪ ♪ Put me in the fire, I'll let it burn ♪ ♪ I'm just stopping by ♪ ♪ I'm just stopping by to steal your shirt ♪ ♪ I'm just stopping by ♪ ♪ I'm just stopping by to steal your heart ♪ (audience applauding) ♪ Oh, I know I'm not the greatest ♪ ♪ Communicating my emotions ♪ ♪ I need someone, I need someone to need it ♪