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.

Bodies were an underlying theme in the 114th edition of Tuesday Funk on March 6. From abuse to disuse to idolization to reproduction, we heard it all in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf.

Award-winning author Tony Romano started us off with an excerpt from his novel, Where My Body Ends and the World Begins. Next, David Daskal read an essay about Barbra Streisand's cloned dogs and their implications for humanity, then Jasmine Davila shared a story about attending actor James "Spike" Marsters' 50th birthday party with dozens of superfans.

After a break to refill our glasses, cohost Andrew Huff read a couple of his topical haiku, and Sahar Mustafah read a story about love and shisha. Finally, Billy Lombardo read part of an unpublished novel about unexpected childhood memories.

Tuesday Funk will be back at Hopleaf on Tuesday, April 3, and we hope you'll join us as we feature readings by Tracy Harford-Porter, Beyza Ozer, Nestor Gomez, Kelly Swails and Ruben Quesada. See you there!

March on into Hopleaf tonight (GET IT?) and check out some amazing writers! We've got one veteran and four brand new readers for you - David Daskal, Tony Romano, Sahar Mustafah, Billy Lombardo, and Ruben Quesada!

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!

Billy Lombardo is the author of three books of fiction: The Man with Two Arms, How to Hold a Woman, The Logic of a Rose: Chicago Stories, and one book of something else: Meanwhile, Roxy Mourns. He is a Nelson Algren Fiction Award winner and the founder and managing editor of Polyphony HS, a student-run, international literary magazine for high school writers and editors. He teaches English literature and creative writing at the Latin School of Chicago.

Please join Billy and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, March 6, 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, March 6, 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.

David Daskal is a writer, parent and jack of all careers. Now a recruiter, he has in past reincarnations been a public defender in Brooklyn, a waiter at Michael Jordan's original restaurant, the personal screener of Mayor Richard M. Daley's mail, and a tech salesman of the world's finest benefits communication tool. He used to perform monologues in various locations around Chicago.

Please join David and our other amazing readers on Tuesday, March 6, 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.