"I Want Caffeine" Molly

At 17, Molly appears quite well-versed on the ukulele, the four-stringed instrument with a jaunty sound. Smaller than a guitar, the instrument is commonly associated with Hawaiian music. The name "ukulele" means "jumping fleas" (uku flea + lele jump) in Hawaiian likely because when strummed, the fingers mimic the movement of the jumping insects.

"It's like more of a high-pitch guitar. And it's weird like that. I sort of like that it's weird," Molly says.

Her song "I Want Caffeine" seems to resonate with the crowd clustered on the lawn listening to live music at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. Like good coffee, her personality seems to strike the delicate balance between bold and sweet notes. This particular song, she wrote herself.

"They sort of just slap me in the face," she says. "I mean they HAVE to slap me in the face."

And yes this musician is a coffee drinker of the ice mocha variety ... "but sometimes I get something weird like a latte."

(photographed on Weaver Street between Main & Greensboro streets)

"70s" Patterson

Patterson oozes a 70s aura and appears mature beyond her years. I caught up with her while she was leafing through "The Republic of Plato" by Allan Bloom. The 17-year-old is originally from New York City (Washington Heights). She moved to Chapel Hill with her family about five years ago and attends Carolina Friends School, a private Quaker school which fosters active exploration and quiet reflection as part of its mission.

What's her goal? "To be happy."

Is she happy now? "I don't know. I haven't thought about it."

(photographed on the corner of Greensboro & Weaver streets in Carrboro)

Play on Words

Tricia, Barb & Jennie

The threesome meets Sundays at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro for late morning rounds of the word game Upwords. A bounty of people and live music as a backdrop, they remain focused on the blue board.

Jennie (wearing blue): "It's like Scrabble."

Tricia (wearing black): "No it's not like Scrabble."

Barb (wearing white): "Emotionally it's not like Scrabble. It's more creative. With a flick of a tile you can change a word."

Tricia: "I've learned to like to score... I don't like to finish too far behind them."

The point of the boardgame is to build words using letter tiles that can be stacked on top of other letters on the board to create new words. The taller the stack, the more points earned. The women (two live in Chatham County, one in Chapel Hill) say they look forward to to the game every week. "This is about our fourth time here," Barb says.

Tricia disagrees: "No, more like our fifth time." She pauses and adds: "I drive them nuts."

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UpwordsTricia

(photograph taken on the lawn of Weaver Street Market off of Weaver & Greensboro)

"Afro Fairies" Stephanie & Star

Stephanie & Star Stephanie: "She was the baby and nobody did anything for her birthday so I took her to get a tattoo when I got back from the service."

Star: "We wanted a fairy. We got matching tattoos."

Stephanie: "You know, like an angel on one side and a devil on another."

Star: "Except we got an Afro on her to be ethnic."

Star, a hairstylist, and her sister Stephanie moved to Chapel Hill from Durham nearly 10 years ago. They live together and are best friends "forever." I remark how wonderful it must be to have your sister as your best friend. Star adds "AND my dad has like 15 kids!"

(photographs taken on Franklin between Henderson & Columbia)

"Deserves Good Artists" Alphonse

Originally from Greensboro, he's been living in Chapel Hill for about three years. Alphonse is an artist who studied theater and has appeared in plenty of of community and regional stages: "Google me. Alphonse Nicholson. Spelled Nicholson like the actor [Jack]." In May, he closed the show in the role of Segismundo in Deep Dish Theatre's "Life is a Dream."  Earlier this year, he transformed into Joseph Asagio in the Playmakers Repertory Company's rendition of "A Raisin in the Sun."  He says he is "most excited" to head to New York City later this month for another performance in which he was commissioned to compose a show. "I live and die for this stuff...to be an artist. I believe in doing what I like to do."

When he is not acting, Alphonse is often out on Franklin Street playing an array of overturned buckets. But sometimes, he says, he's mistaken for the homeless. "I think they have a hard time figuring it out. Eventually people realize I'm not. They realize I'm out here to entertain and bring some life to the city. North Carolina is home...This area deserves good artists."

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 (photographed on the corner of Franklin/Columbia Streets)

"Making the Best of It" Justin

"I fell in love with a girl and everything fell apart then," says Justin, avoiding eye contact. His eyes speak of sadness and his voice of dejection. This is his third time being homeless. He also has been on federal assistance and has lived with an aunt. Justin grew up in Hillsborough and moved to Chapel Hill in 2008. He came to Chapel Hill because of the resources. "Free buses and I can do this here (he points to his cup and cardboard sign). The cops don't give me a hard time because they know I am not out here getting a drink." He says he'd really like a job as a dishwasher.

Toughest part about being homeless? "The rain. Though this time of year the rain does not last all day or all night like it does in the fall or winter."

On an average day, Justin says he usually accumulates enough money to buy a coffee at Starbucks, which also includes a chair and air conditioning. "I try to make the best of it and not be down on myself or miserable about it."

As we wrap up our conversation he pulls out a crinkled bag of wipes and begins to clean his hands and fingernails. "A lot of people do not understand and they are afraid of you....They'll be walking by and move away."

He watches me take notes and adds solemnly: "Make sure to write that part."

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(photographs taken on Franklin between Henderson & Columbia)

"Dancing Gracie"

I first come across "Gracie" reading a tattered book crouched in the shade of the stores along Franklin Street. She is animated and quick in her speech. And expresses herself with the hand motions and facial gestures of a 1950s starlet posing or blowing kisses. Yet remains cautious of others. When I ask her name, she responds, "it's one who loves beauty...Grace, uh, no Gracie. I like that better."

She says she left the North for Chapel Hill about three years ago. Barely giving herself time for a breath, she streams: "I love the smell of the trees. It's great. Up north they do not have these kind of trees. Like the crape myrtles. I call them snow flowers. And the mockingbirds and the lizards. There is a beauty about the South. There's a melancholy about it. Before sunset, like the way the light shines in the trees... "

"Gracie" asks me to check my phone for the date of an upcoming dance performance at Memorial Hall. There is lightness to her that alludes to an artistic past. She says she once danced with renowned modern dance/choreographer Martha Graham and is eager to see an upcoming show. In lieu of checking my phone, I offer to cross the street to grab her a catalog at the Carolina Performing Arts offices. I don't think she believes me.

When I return, I find her digging through her purse in the alley closest to Starbucks. She looks surprised to see me. I hand her the catalog and she thanks me. "I cannot even afford to take dance lessons....but I dance on the street."

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 (photographed on Franklin Street between Columbia and Henderson Streets)

Street Portrait: "In Provence" Alison

Server at the French/Mediterranean restaurant Provence in Carrboro. She has lived in the area for about ten years and at one time performed on local stages. "I abandoned theater for being a regular person." Alison rhapsodizes about working at the restaurant which from the street looks like a cozy home with an inviting garden bedecked with a purling fountain, stone ledge and a giant rooster. "We are like a hidden gem. It's a little oasis here."

Perhaps it's because she has perspective.

Prior to working at Provence she answered phones for the Town of Chapel Hill Public Works department (as in trash collection, pothole repair, etc. ). "I like serving here. People are real nice. At my old job, people just wanted to call in and yell at you."

(photographed at Provence restaurant on weaver Street in Carrboro)

"Me Gusta el Ambiente" Justin

From Guatemala and lives in Chapel Hill. He's been here seven years and works as a prep cook at Sakura Xpress on Columbia Street. "Me gusta mucho aquí. Me gusta el ambiente y el trabajo." ("I like it a lot here. I like the atmosphere and the work.")

Though he still has family in Guatemala and some here in Chapel Hill, he'd like to have his own one day. "Yo quisiera ser padre y tener familia...No quiero ser sortero." ("I'd like to be a father and have a family...I do not want to remain single.")

(photographed behind Sakura Xpress on Franklin/Main Streets in Chapel Hill)

Seen in Chapel Hill: Author Khaled Hosseini

Khaled Hosseini, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Kite Runner, headlined a talk at Chapel Hill High School as part of a Flyleaf Books event. The Kabul-born author spoke and fielded questions about the characters in his books, his writing process, and his native country.

He revealed that the ideas behind his books (also including A Thousand Splendid Suns and And the Mountains Echoed) typically stem from television news. However, he calls upon the characters he creates to drive the story. "I never recognize inspiration the moment it happens... If I just feel the character and their pain and their wants and needs and just write the story, I will find the point in the story."

His responses to audience questions unveiled an intimate perspective on the people and culture in Afghanistan: "Sometimes we forget about the human stories in our wars."

After his talk, Khaled walked off stage to sit behind a desk and sign copies of his latest book And the Mountains Echoed, released in paperback this week. A man with a goth bent, clad in a black Marilyn Manson t-shirt with peeking tattoos, handed Khaled a book for a signature. Khaled looked up and gave a pursed grin. With his pen he pointed to the man's shirt: "He's going to be on 'Sons of Anarchy' soon. I can't wait."

(photographed in the Hanes Theatre at Chapel Hill High School)

"Cardboard Dreams"

The duo met "randomly" several days ago. John ("my American name") is a UNC Greensboro student originally from Durham trying to find a job in Chapel Hill. He prefers Chapel Hill because "it's safer than Durham." Elijah (playing guitar), recently moved back from a stint in Orlando, FL. Says he just landed a job at Krispy Kreme.

The two of them would like to form a band together. They've been tossing about some names. "I like Cardboard Dreams, but I don't know he's down with that," says John.

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(photographed on Franklin Street between Columbia/Henderson in Chapel Hill)

"Me in the Mural" Don

A Chapel Hill native who works at Weaver Street Realty in Carrboro, Don quipped: "You only have to be here three years and then you're a native."

He explained how Carrboro used to be rough and tumble and has evolved over the years. "Franklin Street and Chapel Hill was the way Carrboro is now. Hippie then...If my parents found out I was in Carrboro, I'd be in trouble."

What does he like about living here today? "I love that they are two towns acting as one."

Don described how he grew up with local muralist Michael Brown. He said his image appears in the "Parade of Humanity" mural on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. "I'm the one with the bucket with the hole...It's a bit of a left-handed compliment."

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(Photographed on Main Street in front of Weaver Street Realty in Carrboro)

"Sharing" Barry

Barry is often seen perched alongside a Franklin Street sidewalk. Says he's been in a wheelchair for 15 to 20 years and is usually alone. "I'm cautious." When he describes his story of how an assault led to his condition, he punctuates it with: "God don't like ugly." What he misses most? Gardening.

While I was taking his portrait he repeated how hungry he was. He asked if I could cross the street and buy him a Filet-O-Fish, small fries ("don't come back with a large one"), and an orange juice. I did, handed him the bag of food, and continued on. When I walked back to my car, I thought I saw someone else walking by holding the McDonald's bag I had bought for Barry. So I approached Barry: "Are you giving away the food I'm buying for you?"

"I gave him half," he acquiesced. "You have to share out here."

(photographed on W. Franklin Street between Kenan Street and Basnight Lane in Chapel Hill)

"NC State" Mark & Wrigley

From Hillsborough. Meeting up with friends in Carrboro. Wrigley, a three-month-old border collie, was a gift from his family. Mark wears a brace on his foot where his talus bone was removed as a result of a car accident. Everyone in the car walked away, except him. Impact the accident had on his life? "You really do have to live life to the fullest." Perhaps an example is wearing an NC State t-shirt (not shown) in this neck of the woods? "I'm not afraid...it's a melting pot here."

(photographed behind Open Eye Cafe in Carrboro off of Main and S. Greensboro Streets in Carrboro)

"Mom Hates Them" Marleina

"I'm covered in tattoos and it made it a little hard to fit in on campus at first," said Marleina who moved to Chapel Hill from Orlando to study at UNC. "I got my first when I was 18 and kept going from there. My mom hates them."

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(photographed on Franklin between Columbia/Henderson)

"Sending Energy" Bruce

Bruce is often seen eyes closed whirling to music Sunday mornings at Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. He's been practicing meditation for 37 years and incorporates nuances of his practice into his dancing.

While we were talking a mother walked by with a crying child. He paused in mid conversation, bowed his head, and closed his eyes. When I asked if he was okay he said, "I'm sending energy to the kid."

(Bruce designed the headpiece in the image himself from a necklace he used to wear.)

(photographed in Carrboro on Weaver Street, Carr Mill Mall)