It was a small but attentive crowd in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf for the 137th edition of Tuesday Funk, but those who attended were rewarded with a fantastic show.

Devorah Heitner got everything started with a personal story, then Edward McClelland shared an excerpt from his upcoming book Midnight in Vehicle City, about the Flint sit-down strike against General Motors. Cohost Eden Robins filled in for a sick Stuti Sharma with an excerpt of one of her science fiction stories.

We took a break to refill our drinks, and then Tom Haley read a short story about a dystopian future, followed by a powerful poem and a story about standing up for himself and a bunch of fellow background actors from James Gordon.

I'm telling you, if you weren't there, you really missed out. But fear not, we'll be back on Tuesday, April 7 with a special lineup curated by poet Hannah Gamble! We'll be featuring readings by Dolly Lemke, Caroline M. Watson, Melissa Blount, Himabindu Poroori and Laura Goldstein. Hope to see you then!

The 136th edition of Tuesday Funk on Feb. 4 was another jam-packed room full of attentive audience members listening to fantastic readers! We're always grateful to have such open and engaged crowds.

Lindsay Porter started us off with an abecedarius about music and memory. Next, Kelly Swails read an excerpt from her latest sci-fi novel, leaving us craving more. Then Jessi D shared an essay about finding out more about her birth parents and meeting her birth father for the first time.

After a quick intermission, cohost Andrew Huff recited a couple of his topical haiku, and Ananda Lima read a broad selection of her poems. Kendra Stevens closed the night out by regaling us with a story of an ill-advised road trip and the risky kindness of strangers.

If you missed us, we missed you! But fear not. Your favorite eclectic monthly reading series returns to the Hopleaf on Tuesday, March 3, with readings by Devorah Heitner, Tom Haley, James Gordon and Stuti Sharma. Hope to see you then!

January shows are always fun at Tuesday Funk, because it's always packed with folks who are resolved not to let winter weather stop them from going out. It was standing room only in the upstairs lounge of Hopleaf on Jan. 7, and the crowd was treated to some excellent writing.

Maggie Queeney got us started with a sampling of poems, some from her chapbook settler. Next, Michael Palmer read a glossary of terms from his time in West Texas. Then Darshita Jain shared poems about recent events in the US and in India.

We took a break to refill drinks, and then cohost Andrew Huff read a couple of his topical haiku. Then Cameron McGill recited several poems from his forthcoming chapbook, Meridians. Last but not least, Dimitry Samarov shared excerpts from his recently published memoir Soviet Stamps.

Want to make sure winter doesn't beat you? Join us on Tuesday, Feb. 4 for another edition of Tuesday Funk! We'll feature readings by Kelly Swails, Ananda Lima, Lindsay Porter, Jessi D and Kendra Stevens. Hope to see you then!

With memories of Thanksgiving feasts still fresh in everyone's minds, Chicago's favorite eclectic monthly reading series assembled in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf on Dec. 3 for Tuesday Funk's last show of 2019.

We kicked the night off listening to Anne-Marie Ooman share a poem she wrote for Lake Michigan Mermaid: A Tale in Poems (which she cowrote with with Linda Nemec Foster) and a story about Catholic school sex-ed from her memoir Love, Sex and 4-H. Next, Rachel Cromidas read an essay about not getting the traditional post-breakup haircut, and what that's meant to her. Then Ruth Kaufman read the opening scene from her novel My Life as a Star.

After an intermission during which we refilled our drinks and talked about the first half, Katey Schultz shared several excerpts from her novels Flashes of War and the new Still Come Home. Next, cohost Eden Robins offered a quick bit of satirical fiction, and finally Norman Doucet read an essay about the differences between race and culture.

Everyone had a great time, and promised to be back in 2020 for more. Want to join us? Your next opportunity is Tuesday, Jan. 7, when we'll feature readings by Dmitry Samarov, Darshita Jain, Michael Palmer, Maggie Queeney and Cameron McGill. Hope to see you there!

It was a prematurely cold night in what has turned into a series of cold nights, but the audience for the 133rd edition of Tuesday Funk was warm and welcoming in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf on November 5, and our readers were ready to soak it up. Brooklyn-based Marco Rafalà got the show started with an excerpt from his new novel, How Fires End, about a fateful accident in a Sicilian town soon after the end of World War II. Next, Kat Jercich read an essay about attempting to hide her queerness under hundreds of photos of Daniel Radcliffe on her bedroom walls. Then Leland Cheuk shared an excerpt from his new novel, No Good Very Bad Asian before we took a break to refresh our drinks.

After intermission, cohost Andrew Huff read a couple of his patented topical haiku, then Karen Clanton told a story about overcoming racial harassment in a new town as a child. And lastly, Kevin Coval read a selection of poems about Wicker Park from his new collection, Everything Must Go: The Life & Death of an American Neighborhood.

If you missed it, don't feel bad. We'll have video up on our YouTube page soon. And you can catch the next episode of Chicago's favorite eclectic monthly reading series on Tuesday, Dec. 3, when we'll have readings by Ruth Kaufman, Katey Schulz, Anne-Marie Oomen, Norman Doucet and Darshita Jain. Hope to see you there!

We had a full house in Hopleaf's upstairs lounge for the 132nd edition of Tuesday Funk -- not surprisingly, because we were showcasing The Chicago Neighborhood Guidebook, a new anthology from the wonderful Belt Publishing. The standing-room-only was enthusiastic, and your favorite eclectic monthly reading series enjoyed sharing the love.

We got started, appropriately enough, with a story about Andersonville from Sarah Steimer. Next, F. Amanda Tugade told a quick story about trying to hide her unemployment from the manager of the Filipino corner store in her neighborhood. Then Scott Smith shared an essay about how Beverly became integrated.

Everyone refilled their drinks and bought copies of the Chicago Neighborhood Guidebook during intermission, then Ann C. Logue read an essay about how UIC and University Village are a microcosm of Chicago. Closing out the night, Gint Aras, who was also celebrating the release of his new memoir, Relief by Execution, shared an excerpt that touched on immigration, poverty and racism and his own dawning perspective as a young teen.

You missed a great show, but don't worry, we'll have video up on our YouTube channel soon. And you can come to the next show on Tuesday, Nov. 5, when we'll feature readings by Kevin Coval, Karen Clanton, Leland Cheuk, Marco Rafala and Kat Jercich. Hope to see you there!

The day after Labor Day can be kind of subdued -- the summer is "over," school's back in session, and summer work hours are gone. But the crowd at your favorite eclectic monthly reading series was large and engaged.

The show started off with cohost Andrew Huff reading an excerpt of his novel in progress. Next, Tiffany Gholar shared pieces from her book, The Sum of its Parts: Artwork, 2014-2018. Then Tony Breed told a funny story about his first trip to Europe as a college student.

We took a break to refill our drinks, then Edward Moses read three short pieces about his life. And Kate Harding closed out the show with a thrilling tale of a neighborhood mayoral race -- for pets.

We'll admit it, it was all pretty great. You should see for yourself by coming to the next show! We'll be back at Hopleaf on Tuesday, Oct. 1, where we'll feature readings by Ann C. Logue, Scott Smith, F. Amanda Tugade, Sarah Steimer and Gint Aras. Hope to see you then!

The 130th edition of Tuesday Funk was a rollercoaster of emotions, and we're so glad you joined us for it. The full house in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf was treated to a trio of short related pieces by Sara Ross Witt, then Vojislav Pejovic took us on a historic journey through poets from the former Yugoslavia. Next, Sophie Amado mused about the meaning of "now" and time in general, and then it was time for a drink.

Cohost Andrew Huff read a couple of his patented topical haiku to bring us back from the intermission, and then H.Melt shared poems from their recent and forthcoming books. Last but not least, Jill Howe told a story about connecting with a challenging student, and the repercussions of that decision.

Tuesday Funk will be back soon! Join us Tuesday, Sept. 3 for readings by Kate Harding, Tony Breed, Tiffany Gholar, Edward Moses and cohost Andrew Huff. Hope to see you there!

We had a great crowd for the 129th edition of Tuesday Funk on July 2, and those in attendance got a serious treat -- emphasis on serious.

Norman Doucet got everything started with a funny story that wove a legendary boxing match with glimpses into the personalities of the three parental figures in his life. Next, Cameron McGill read poems that painted desolate landscapes populated by lovers, family members and memories. Then Sahar Mustafah shared an excerpt from her forthcoming novel, The Beauty of Your Face, giving us a look at the movements and motivations of a school shooter.

Cohost Andrew read a couple of rather angry haiku, and we took a break to refill drinks and decompress.

Cohost Eden brought us back from intermission with part of an essay about her experiences living for two weeks on a scientific research boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Then Kalisha Buckhanon read an excerpt from her new book Speaking of Summer, and finally Kenji Kuramitsu delivered an essay reflecting on Japanese resettlement in Chicago after the World War II internment camps and their relevance today.

Keep an eye on our YouTube page for video of the show, and put Tuesday, August 6 on your calendar now. We'll be featuring readings by Sara Ross Witt, H. Melt, Sophie Amado, Vojislav Pejovic and Jill Howe. You won't want to miss it!

Some nights just feel right. June 4 was one of those nights, when everything just came together and your favorite eclectic monthly reading series simply hummed.

James Finn Garner set the mood with a snappy bit of clown-detective noir. Next, Mare Swallow told a story about wanting to be the bad girl for once, and its repercussions. Then Erin Watson read a collection of poems, including a few about baseball's dad.

Intermission arrived and we refilled our drinks, and cohost Andrew Huff read some of his topical haiku. Bill Savage roused the crowd with an impassioned recounting of how order came to Chicago's street names. And finally, Elizabeth Gomez shared an essay about how important self identity is, especially as it's being formed.

Yep, you missed a good one. But don't worry, Tuesday Funk will be back on Tuesday, July 2, with readings by Sahar Mustafah, Kenji Kuramitsu, Kalisha Buckhanon, Norman Doucet and Cameron McGill! Hope to see you there.