The day after Labor Day can be kind of subdued -- the summer is "over," school's back in session, and summer work hours are gone. But the crowd at your favorite eclectic monthly reading series was large and engaged.

The show started off with cohost Andrew Huff reading an excerpt of his novel in progress. Next, Tiffany Gholar shared pieces from her book, The Sum of its Parts: Artwork, 2014-2018. Then Tony Breed told a funny story about his first trip to Europe as a college student.

We took a break to refill our drinks, then Edward Moses read three short pieces about his life. And Kate Harding closed out the show with a thrilling tale of a neighborhood mayoral race -- for pets.

We'll admit it, it was all pretty great. You should see for yourself by coming to the next show! We'll be back at Hopleaf on Tuesday, Oct. 1, where we'll feature readings by Ann C. Logue, Scott Smith, F. Amanda Tugade, Sarah Steimer and Gint Aras. Hope to see you then!

Wrap up summer with our dashing and talented readers! Featuring Tiffany Gholar, Kate Harding, Tony Breed, Edward Moses, and Tuesday Funk co-host Andrew Huff. We'll try not to think about our impending 8-month winter.

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!

In 2000, Edward Moses's diverse musical upbringing began to suddenly make a lot of sense, as the whirlwinds of albums his parents had at home merged with his sudden discovery of Hip-Hop and Slam Poetry, all in a single summer. 17 years later, he's shared stages with Rap luminaries like Aesop Rock and Gift of Gab, all while trying to float his sneaker habit by disguising himself as a mild-mannered IT specialist at a Chicago start-up. Hailed as one of those "your favorite Chicago indie rapper's favorite indie rapper"-sort of folks, but also likely to talk your ear off about anything from the woes and Sisyphean doldrums of finding rare House records, to tiering systems in Capcom fighting games (yes, seriously).

Please join Moses and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 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.

Kate Harding is the author of Asking for It: The Alarming Rise of Rape Culture and co-editor of Nasty Women: Feminism, Resistance and Revolution in Trump's America. She's taught creative writing at StoryStudio Chicago, The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, and Cornell College, where she was Distinguished Visiting Writer in 2017. Her next book, VICTIM COMPLEX: ON SNOWFLAKES, WITCH HUNTS, AND THE CULT OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY will be out from St. Martin's in 2021, and you can subscribe to her newsletter at kateharding.substack.com.

Please join Kate and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 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.

Tony Breed is a cartoonist, DJ, and UX Architect. His comic Muddlers Beat is a queer slice-of-life comic about how life is what happens when you don't know what you're doing; he also created Finn & Charlie Are Hitched, about a gay married couple and their friends. You can listen to his show on CHIRP Radio every Friday morning, 6-9am, and watch him dance in the studio on Instagram. In his spare time he travels too much, according to his friends in Chicago. Right now he's probably thinking about what he's going to eat next.

Please join Tony and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 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.

In the 20-some years since he graduated college, Andrew Huff has been a public relations professional, a journalist, the editor and publisher of Gapers Block (a Chicago-centric online magazine that ran for 13 years), a professional blogger for corporate clients, and host of 20x2 Chicago, a show in which 20 interesting people have two minutes each to answer one question. He's also cohost of Tuesday Funk, where he's normally known for his topical haiku. He lives in Chicago's West Ridge neighborhood with is wife and three cats, and is currently trying his hand at writing fiction.

Please join Andrew and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 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.

Tiffany Gholar is a lifelong resident of Chicago, Illinois. She is the author of four art books: The Sum of its Parts, Post-Consumerism, Imperfect Things, and The Doll Project, and A Bitter Pill to Swallow, a young adult novel. She studied art, creative writing and film at the University of Chicago, fiction writing in Columbia College's MFA program, interior design at Harrington College of Design, and has a Masters Degree in painting from Governors State University. She is an artist, writer, interior designer, and Jeopardy! champion.

Please join Tiffany and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 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.

Cohost Andrew Huff read just three topical haiku at our 130th show, but they were enough to capture the month behind us.

The alligator
explores its strange new waters:
Humboldt Park lagoon.

Thirty to fifty
feral hogs, bloodthirsty for
my small kids at play.

Toni Morrison,
for revealing untold truths,
we owe a great debt.

Summer's end approaches, but before it's officially over, Tuesday Funk will return to the upstairs bar at Hopleaf for one more show. Join us Tuesday, Sept. 3 for readings by Kate Harding, Tony Breed, Tiffany Gholar, Edward Moses and cohost Andrew Huff!

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 dawdle!) and the show will start at 7:30pm. Please RSVP on Facebook — and while you're there, please like and follow us while you're there so you get our announcements right in your stream.

The 130th edition of Tuesday Funk was a rollercoaster of emotions, and we're so glad you joined us for it. The full house in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf was treated to a trio of short related pieces by Sara Ross Witt, then Vojislav Pejovic took us on a historic journey through poets from the former Yugoslavia. Next, Sophie Amado mused about the meaning of "now" and time in general, and then it was time for a drink.

Cohost Andrew Huff read a couple of his patented topical haiku to bring us back from the intermission, and then H.Melt shared poems from their recent and forthcoming books. Last but not least, Jill Howe told a story about connecting with a challenging student, and the repercussions of that decision.

Tuesday Funk will be back soon! Join us Tuesday, Sept. 3 for readings by Kate Harding, Tony Breed, Tiffany Gholar, Edward Moses and cohost Andrew Huff. Hope to see you there!