On Church Street in Bengaluru, weekends offer a unique atmosphere. The street comes alive with buskers playing soulful music, talented artists showcasing their work, photographers capturing the scene, cartoonists displaying quirky artwork, and aspiring entrepreneurs presenting innovative food. Social media creators aim to capture the essence of the street, alongside face readers and fortune tellers. According to Kulsum, a college student selling artisanal candles, Church Street embodies the spirit and creativity of Bengaluru. Uttamveer, a long-time vendor selling custom tote bags, describes the street as the heart of the city, with increased foot traffic due to the IT boom but also intense competition.

Arul, a psychology student practicing face reading on Church Street, offers his insights for free, relying on intuition rather than astrology. He values the support of the diverse crowd and sends personalized readings to those interested. Authors also find success on Church Street, particularly self-published authors like Moyeen VN, who sold over 7,000 copies of his book thanks to the street's high foot traffic and nearby bookstores. Mahavir, known as SJ Johnson, takes a unique approach to engage with readers.He offers his book on a "pay-what-you-wish" basis with the intention of simply sharing his work. He follows up with readers a week later to gather feedback, as he explains.

Located at the meeting point of Brigade Road and Church Street, you'll find Fakhruddin, a skilled player of the Indian coconut violin known as pitil in Kannada. A familiar figure to those who have frequented the area for decades, he shares, "I can play any song in any language upon request, be it Kannada, English, Telugu, or any other. I started performing my melodies on Church Street 30 years ago... Now, with one eye blind, my happiness lies in people stopping to listen to my music."

Church Street is a hub for a variety of musicians, from experienced professionals like Raghu Dixit to budding performers seeking to entertain, and regular street artists like Fakhruddin, who showcases his pitil skills every weekend.

Small businesses are also thriving on Church Street, with young entrepreneurs balancing their dreams with the challenges of adulthood. A vendor shares, "This is my side hustle. I haven't informed my parents yet; they think I'm just hanging out with friends. I hope this takes off so I can share it with them. Right now, I'm focused on promoting my business on Church Street and seeing where it leads."

Shravani, a resin artist, mentions, "I work at a studio where I teach art to students, and I've always wanted to start my own venture. A friend tried setting up a stall here, and it seemed like a safe bet. It has been a fantastic platform to showcase my work, as people show genuine interest in the pieces."

Divya, a handcrafted jewelry maker, shares, "My friends often brainstorm new business ideas. With a design graduate sister and a creative mom, we thought, 'Why not?' But the reality is far from easy. While Church Street might offer space for free, the effort required is substantial. We must arrive by 5:30 am to secure a spot and often stay until 1 am."

Dhanush, a college student with a penchant for Polaroid cameras, talks about his passion for capturing moments and how he showcases his photography on Church Street.Dhanush, who offers instant photo souvenirs for Rs 150, takes up to 50 photos per evening. During our conversation, a group of women from Kerala celebrating a college reunion in Bengaluru interrupts and asks for a photo. Dhanush quickly gathers them, effortlessly capturing their moment and providing them with the developing photo. Impressed, they request additional copies. Dhanush expresses joy in helping people create memories through photography.