James Gordon is a Champion Storyteller, having won the Moth Grand Slam twice and the Story Slam 19 times, as well as a critically acclaimed actor who is a recurring character on two series on Amazon (The G and New Ties), several commercials, and more films upcoming. Follow him on Twitter at gr8estpoetalive, James Gordon on Facebook, and Greatest Poet Alive on Instagram.

Please join James and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. Please RSVP on Facebook.

Devorah Heitner writes memoir essays that you can find in places like Longreads and the Washington Post and books like Black Power TV.

Please join Devorah and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. Please RSVP on Facebook.

Stuti Sharma is an immigrant artist, stand up comic, clumsy poet, and educator based in Chicago. She's a poet in residence with the Chicago Poetry Center. She is a Leo sun, Virgo moon and only trust restaurants where the cooks are simultaneously facetiming family. You can catch her around the city doing shows and find her on Twitter at @cyborgstuti.

Please join Stuti and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. Please RSVP on Facebook.

Tom Haley is the recipient of 2019's Best American Writers Over 40 But Under 44 Living in North Central Albany Park, which is not a real award. He has worked as a writing teacher, copywriter, and book critic, and is currently employed as the head of the Creative Department at a Chicago software company called Jellyvision. He lives in Albany Park with his wife and three sons, and is working too slowly on a collection of short fiction.

Please join Tom and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. Please RSVP on Facebook.

March is just around the corner, which is just madness. The weeks are going by so fast, and before you know it, it'll be second winter here in Chicago! Well, anyway, join us in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf on Tuesday, March 3 for the 137th edition of Tuesday Funk! We'll be featuring readings by Devorah Heitner, Tom Haley, James Gordon, Stuti Sharma and Ted McClelland. It's shaping up to be an excellent evening.

As always, admission to Tuesday Funk is free, but you must be 21 to attend. Doors open at 7pm sharp (tables tend to fill up fast, so don't be late!) and the show will start at 7:30pm. Please RSVP on Facebook, and while you're there, please like and follow us so you get our announcements in your news stream.

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!

Show your indomitable Chicago spirit by trudging out in the (choose one:) snow/below-zero temps/gray drizzle/slush to see some awesome live lit! We've got: Kelly Swails, Ananda Lima, Lindsay Porter, Jessi D, and Kendra Stevens. Andrew Huff and Eden Robins cohost as always.

Our readings take place at Hopleaf Bar, 5148 N. Clark St. in Chicago. We get started promptly at 7:30 pm in the upstairs lounge. Arrive early if you want a seat -- but no earlier than 7:00 pm. Our readings are free, but only those 21 and over will be admitted. And check it out -- You can now order food from our bartender! See you there!

Lindsay Porter has told stories with Loose Chicks, Upright Citizens Brigade, Miss Spoken, Tellin' Tales, TenX, True Story and Story Sessions. She teaches storytelling in schools, hospitals, and jails. She recently started doing stand up comedy, and has performed with The Kates, Mother Cluckers, Chicago Women's Funny Fest, Waukegan Comedy Jam, and in line at Trader Joe's.

Please join Lindsay and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. Please RSVP on Facebook.

Jessi D hails from the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona, which is just as bad as it sounds. She packed her car with her belongings and cat and made the drive to Chicago in the miserably humid summer of 2011 and has been dicking around in the Midwest ever since. She finds joy in volunteering for CHIRP Radio, which has included volunteer coordination, audio production, and being an on-air DJ who plays songs that remind her of feelings from high school. Her day job is with Metropolis Coffee and has a very vague title including operations, processes, and analysis, and her night job is DJing weddings for a female owned and operated company and telling drunk people that no, she will not play the Chicken Dance.

Please join Jessi and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. Please RSVP on Facebook.

Kendra Stevens is a Chicago-based live-lit performer, comic and rapper who has performed all over the city. She is the co-producer and host of Serving the Sentence, a live-lit show in which all the stories start with the same first sentence, 2nd Tuesdays at the Teal Room, and a member of She's Crafty, Chicago's All-Female Beastie Boys tribute.

Please join Kendra and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. Please RSVP on Facebook.