July 2026 Debrief

Summer is often a little quieter in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf, but not this time! The house was packed for Chicago's favorite eclectic monthly reading series, and the crowd was rewarded with a fantastic show.

Joanne Jacsobson got Tuesday Funk #172 started with some short fiction and poetry. Next, Maggie Queeney shared a collection of poems about gender and the medical system. Then Jill Howe told a fun story about a makeup mishap at a very stuffy office.

We took a break to refresh our drinks, and cohost Andrew Huff read someone else's poem for a change: "Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle Received from a Friend Called Felicity" by John Tobias. This led into Beatriz Gartler reading selections from her book of poetry as well as some flash fiction, after which cohost Erin Watson toasted alley trees. Finally, P. Scott Cunningham read from his poetry book, Self-portrait as the "i" in Florida.

Please join us on Tuesday, August 4 when we'll feature readings by Fez Avery, Jasmine Davila, Mary Winn Heider, Edward Moses, and Cynthia Pelayo. Hope to see you there!