January 2026 Debrief

We love a packed room at Tuesday Funk, and the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf was indeed filled to capacity for our 166th edition on January 6, 2026. A queue formed on the stairs ahead of the 7pm door time!

Once everyone was settled in where they could, Dmitry Samarov got things started with a story about reorganizing the shelves at a book store and connecting it to his own moves from apartment to apartment. Next, Kelsey McGrath shared poems and an essay about her relationship with her father. Then Peter Coviello read an essay art in the time of fascism, yesteryear and today.

We took a break and refreshed our drinks, and cohost Andrew Huff read a couple of his topical haiku before introducing Matt Carmichael, who shared two contrasting stories from his new book, Meeting My Heroes. Then cohost Erin Watson led us in a toast before introducing Sara Paretsky, who read an unpublished fable about a princess and a crocodile.

Dmitry Samarov also sketched the other guests as they read; thanks for sharing them, Dmitry!

Tuesday Funk returns to the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf on Tuesday, Feb. 3, when we'll feature readings by Dawn Angelicca Barcelona, PJ Bauman, Robin Billadeau, Robert Loerzel, and Lori Rader-Day. Hope to see you there!