Debriefings

A collection of 129 posts

Debriefings Reading #161

August 2025 Debrief

It feels like this summer has been flying by! Fortunately we have the rhythm of Tuesday Funk to help mark the time. Our show August 5 was standing room only, demonstrating just how much Chicago loves live lit! Courtney Justus got the evening started with a tale of dancing and

Debriefings Reading #160

July 2025 Debrief

It was downright hot on the first of July, but we stayed nice and cool in the upstairs lounge of Hopleaf, ready for the 160th edition of Tuesday Funk! Victoria Montalbano got things started with a funny story about being an in-store shopper for a now wildly successful college classmate.

Debriefings Reading #159

June 2025 Debrief

We had a packed room for our June 3 show — proving once again that Chicagoans love their live lit! And we had a really great show for them, too. Dayna Bateman started things off with a moving abecedarian essay about her indigenous Sámi ancestors to pass for white in the

Debriefings Reading #158

May 2025 Debrief

We had a wonderful turnout for Tuesday Funk on May 6. The upstairs lounge at Hopleaf was filled with folks ready for anything, and that's exactly what your favorite eclectic monthly reading series gave them! J. Rohr got things started with a lightly fictionalized story of a wild

Debriefings Reading #158

April 2025 Debrief

Thanks to everyone who joined us for Tuesday Funk on April 1 — y'all aren't fools! Our show ended up being one reader short, as Rachel Mennies was sick, but we had a great time anyway. Marc Fischer got us started with a collection of emails disclosing

Debriefings Reading #156

March 2025 Debrief

March came in like a lion with some fantastic live lit at Tuesday Funk! First, Kat Jercich told a story about a determined search for a special duck. Next, Andrew Cothren read a collection of flash fiction pieces. Then Keidra Chaney read an essay about the challenges and misconceptions about

Debriefings Reading #155

February 2025 Debrief

It might be winter in Chicago, but Tuesday Funk's audience gave everyone a super warm welcome! Chicago's favorite eclectic reading series played to a packed house February 4. Mare Swallow started us off strong with a story about doing cosplay for the first time at C2E2.

Debriefings Reading #154

January 2025 Debrief

Tuesday Funk started the year off right, with a full house and five great readers! Michelle Young told a story about buying her home and the safety it made her feel. Next, Carole Hodorowicz shared a story of a young woman reflecting on the Midwest during a night in the

Debriefings Reading #153

December 2024 Debrief

Chicago's favorite eclectic reading series closed out 2024 with a cozy night of great readings! Veronica Arreola started us off strong with an essay about women's sports. Next, Tanner McSwain shared a slightly surreal meditation. We took an intermission to refill our drinks, after which cohost

Debriefings Reading #152

October 2024 Debrief

There was a slightly somber and spooky vibe to the October edition of Tuesday Funk, as is appropriate to the season. Sondra Morin led things off with an essay and a couple of poems. Then Faisal Mohyuddin read a range of poetry, including a selection that were published October 2024

Debriefings Reading #151

September 2024 Debrief

Our September show brought together readers new and old. Dr. Ada Cheng shared a contemplative essay about aging and acceptance, followed by Kemi Alabi reading poems from their acclaimed book Against Heaven. Tuesday Funk co-founder Hallie Palladino read a personal essay about how she fell in love with — and began

Debriefings Reading #150

August 2024 Debrief

Our August show was lively and fun. If you didn't make it, here's what you missed! Kelly Swails led us off with an essay about exploring the city through visits to dive bars. Next, Rosamund Lannin read a portion of a short story that will be

Debriefings Reading #149

July 2024 Debrief

On the Tuesday before July 4, we celebrated our independence with a little Tuesday Funk! Kate Lechler got the show rolling with a delightfully dread-inspiring story of self-actualization. C. Russell Price then introduce us to a cowboy ghost and his blue ghost horse friend through the medium of poetry. Then

Debriefings Reading #148

June 2024 Debrief

We had a standing-room-only crowd for the 148th edition of Tuesday Funk on June 4, 2024 — and no wonder, with Eden Robins making her final appearance as cohost. Plus we had a stacked lineup! Chris Sweet started us off strong with a fun and funny essay about Bob Dylan and

Debriefings Reading #147

May 2024 Debrief

The 147th edition of Tuesday Funk seesawed from personal stories to pure fiction as our readers held their audience rapt in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Tuesday Funk founder Connor Coyne led things off with an excerpt from his novella Hollywood. Then Carmen Aiken read an essay about a summer

Debriefings Reading #141

September 2020 Debrief

Tuesday Funk on the first of September once again happened on our YouTube page, but that didn't slow down our readers. Maggie Kast started us off with a portion of a novella in her new book, Side By Side But Never Face To Face. Next Veronica Arreola read

Debriefings Reading #140

August 2020 Debrief

The August "Quarantuesday Funk" went very well. Tracy Harford-Porter kicked things off with an excerpt of a novel she's been working on, then Kyle Thiessen read a portion of a fake novelization of a movie that doesn't exist. Next, Erin Watson shared several poems.

Debriefings Reading #139

July 2020 Debrief

The second-ever "Quarantuesday Funk" on YouTube Live went very well, and featured some fantastic stories and essays. Lily Be got us started with a story about bearded dragons and honesty. Next, Rosamund Lannin shared an essay about the myths and realities of being a city kid, then Stuart

Debriefings Videos

Debrief for June 2020

With our beloved Hopleaf closed due to the coronavirus, Tuesday Funk missed shows in April and May. We finally decided to try bringing the show back in video form, with readers recording their pieces at home and cohosts Andrew and Eden introducing them on a YouTube Live stream at the

Debriefings Reading #137

March 2020 Debrief

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

Debriefings Reading #136

February 2020 Debrief

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

Debriefings Reading #135

January 2020 Debrief

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

Debriefings Reading #134

December 2019 Debrief

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

Debriefings Reading #133

November 2019 Debrief

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

Debriefings Reading #132

October 2019 Debrief

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