The weather was classically "Chicago in early spring," but your favorite eclectic monthly reading series kept everyone warm and dry in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf on April 3.

Kelly Swails started things off with an essay about the change of faith necessary to go from being a Cardinals fan to a Cubs fan. Next, Ruben Quesada read some deeply personal poetry, then Cinnamon Cooper shared a story of discovering freedom as a child in a domestic violence shelter.

We took a break, then cohost Andrew Huff shared a couple of his patented topical haiku, then Levi Todd recited poetry that both challenged and amused the audience. Finally, Nestor Gomez told a story about immigration, followed by a heartfelt poem about forgiveness.

Tuesday Funk will be back at Hopleaf on Tuesday, May 1 with readings by Rachel Arndt, James Finn Garner, Michi Trota, B. Metzger Sampson and Felix Jung. Hope to see you there!

Emerge from your winter cocoon tonight and come hear some great writing by Tracy Harford-Porter, Nestor Gomez, Kelly Swails, Ruben Quesada, and Levi Todd! Helmed, as always, by your trusty co-captains, Andrew Huff and Eden Robins.

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. No food can be brought up from the restaurant. See you there!

Levi Todd is a queer poet and lifelong witness to the Chicago Renaissance. He is the founder of Reacting Out Loud, an independent organization devoted to uplifting poetry and affirming community in Muncie, Indiana. He is also a reader for Tinderbox Poetry Journal, and his work is published or forthcoming in Glass: A Journal of Poetry, thread, The Broken Plate, and anthologies from Blueshift Journal and Winter Tangerine. You can follow him on Twitter @levicitodd, where he'd love to hear about your favorite Carly Rae Jepsen song.

Please join Levi and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. RSVP on Facebook.

Ruben Quesada has taught writing, literature, and literary translation at Vermont College of Fine Arts and at Columbia College Chicago. He is the author of Next Extinct Mammal and Exiled from the Throne of Night: Selected Translations of Luis Cernuda. His writing and digital media have been featured at The Art Institute of Chicago, The Poetry Foundation, Oxford American, Ploughshares, TriQuarterly, The American Poetry Review and elsewhere.

Please join Ruben and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. RSVP on Facebook.

Tracy Harford-Porter was born in Brooklyn, NY and now resides in the Chicago suburbs. She has worked for Essence Communications as a photo editor, the Harlem Children's Zone as the managing editor of Harlem Overheard, StoryCorps as a facilitator coordinator, and Goldman Sachs as a long-term administrative temp/secret ethnographer. Tracy is a 2008 graduate of Clarion West and proud alum of Columbia University School of General Studies, majoring in anthropology. She is currently reworking a NaNoWriMo project into a novel and a screenplay because she is a masochist.

Please join Tracy and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. RSVP on Facebook.

Nestor Gomez was born in Guatemala and has lived in Chicago for the last 30 years. Almost 3 years ago, he told his first story as a way to get over the stuttering that had plagued his childhood, and since then he has been telling stories all over the United States. He has won 30 Moth Slams and 2 Grand Slams, and his stories have been featured on The Moth Radio Hour, Snap Judgment, and several other national broadcast podcast. He also produces, hosts and curates his own storytelling show, 80 Minutes Around the World, which showcases the stories of immigrants and allies. Nestor is currently working on a book, a collection of poems and a collection of short stories. Find out more about Nestor on his website Nestorgomezstoryteller.com.

Please join Nestor and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. RSVP on Facebook.

Please join Beyza and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. RSVP on Facebook.

Kelly Swails is a writer, editor, and recovering clinical microbiologist. Her work has appeared in anthologies, comics, medical laboratory publications, and Shondaland. She also has two young adult novels out now, with a third appearing later this year. When she isn't writing, she reads, knits, and hangs out with her husband and their three cats. You can stalk her online at kellyswails.com.

Please join Kelly and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf. Doors open at 7pm, and the show starts at 7:30. It's free, and 21-and-over. RSVP on Facebook.

Cohost Andrew Huff read a few haiku at the March episode of Tuesday Funk.

Neither snow nor rain
nor dark of night will deter
our president's tweets.

My first phone number:
438-8873.
Do you recall yours?

It is hard to have
Mardi Gras followed closely
by Valentine's Day.

Hollywood will be
better for knowing the words
"inclusion rider."

Your favorite eclectic monthly reading series helps you get into the spring mood on Tuesday, April 3!

Join us in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf, where we'll feature Tracy Harford-Porter, Beyza Ozer, Nestor Gomez, Kelly Swails and Ruben Quesada!

As always, admission is free, but you must be 21 to attend. Doors open at 7pm sharp (don't dawdle if you want a seat!) and the show will start at 7:30pm. Please RSVP on Facebook -- and if you haven't yet, like our page so you get our announcements right in your stream.

Sponsored by the Chicago Review of Books.