September 2025 Debrief

Do you remember? The 2nd night of September? Tuesday Funk was changin' the minds of pretenders, while chasin' the clouds away...

The 162nd edition of Chicago's favorite eclectic reading series brought a packed house to the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf, and our readers delivered for them. Leading us off, Caitlin Brecht read a touching remembrance of her recently passed mother in law and a short essay about deciding to become a parent in what seems like a dying world. Next, eri lucia kapling read a collection of poems about gender, love, food, and motherhood. Then Susan Buttenweiser shared a chapter from her book Junction of Earth and Sky.

We took a break to refill our drinks, and cohost Erin Watson led a quick toast before Cean Gamalinda read some of their bombastic poetry. Howard Friedman closed us out with a humorous story about substitute teaching and dance.

Thanks to all our readers and our awesome audience! We hope you'll join us on October 7, when our guests will be Esther Cowie, Miles Harvey, Jitesh Jaggi, Alan Lake and Jessica Palmer. Hope to see you there!