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Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 9:05 a.m.

Dressed as their favorite fictional characters, from longhaired Hylians to prim Mad Hatters, dozens of local cosplayers will gather at Tropical Park this Saturday for this year's Fantastical Tea Party.

In recent years, the quirky event, combining a potluck and plenty of lallygagging on the green fields of the park, has become a staple in South Florida geek life. Spring has historically been a sleepy season for comic conventions, so the Tea Party was launched in 2010 to give local cosplayers another opportunity to commiserate with and meet like-minded fellows.

Plus, the atmosphere is much more intimate than what many conventions provide.

"Cons are amazing, but every once in a while you just want to eat cookies and play giant Jenga with a bunch of nerds, and the Tea Party fills that informal void for all of us," says 27-year-old Xandra Anneww, who created the event with her team of smiley, whimsicalfriends. They callthemselves "The Outlaw Corps."

In 2014 and 2015, about 100 people flocked to Tropical Park to attend the Tea Party, but last year's event was a bit less crowded. One of the reasons: Many of the major Miami-based conventions Supercon, Animate! Florida, and Paradise City Comic Con moved to Fort Lauderdale, dampening the mood in the Magic City geek scene.

But this past weekend saw the first Supercon Retro, bringing a new convention to Miami that's aimed at rousing local geeks from their slumber. So this year's Tea Party might get a boost in attendance.

Activities at this year's Tea Party range from a costume contest to a scavenger hunt. There will also be a "tea identity contest" the person with the most discriminating palate is poised to win.

The best thing though about the event, though, is the accepting crowd."The spirit of the Tea Party is very relaxed and simple," Anneww says. "Everybody loves a tea party, and everyone just needs an excuse to hang out sometimes."

Fantastical Tea Party Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Tropical Park, 7900 Bird Rd., Miami. Visit the Facebook event page.

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Fantastical Tea Party, Miami's Long-Running Geek Gathering, Might Get a Supercon Boost - Miami New Times

TIME Magazine felt that the anti-Trump Tax March, which allegedly took place in about 200 cities country-wide, was like the Tea Party rallies in 2009. There was no comparison made to the recent anti-Trump Womens March on Washington, which had some vulgar remarks from some of the speakers.

The Tea Party is different from the Tax March because it was a grassroots effort to bring about a wave of political change. The Tax March, according to TIME, is similar to the Tea Party because of the following:

Saturdays Tax March, which took place in nearly 200 cities around the country, was unusual for a liberal protest both in its subject matter and its specificity: rather than focus on more typically leftist issues like police brutality, climate change or reproductive rights, the Tax March was all about taxes, which is typically a rallying cry of Republicans. Specifically, the marchers had just one demand: to see Trumps taxes.

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TIME Magazine: Anti-Trump Tax March is like the Tea Party - Accuracy In Media (blog)

Marine Corps drill instructor Kevin Porter is one tough guy, but even he "couldn't say no" when his wife arranged a surprise photo shoot with their 4-year-old daughter Ashley, who was dressed like a princess for a special tea party.

My husband had no idea what was going to happen until we showed up to the shoot, his wife Lizette told ABC News.He was hesitant at first but after a little talking, I was able to convince him. He would do anything for Ashley."

He was kind of embarrassed, but then my daughter had seen the whole set up and was so excited. He couldnt say no, she said.

The magical moment was captured by Kyndal Courtney, who owns Kyndal Rose Photographyin Oceanside, California.

"As a photographer and wife to a Marine myself, I had the special opportunity to photograph this drill instructor and his daughter. It was an honor to capture the love and joy between them," Courtney told Military Times. She said the photos, which have been widely shared on social media, carry "a powerful message."

"It seems it was just what America needed to see," she said.

Lizette Porter said the photos show a softer side to her husband.Drill instructors still have a life after working long and hard hours, she told ABC News. Many of them have families that after hours they still have to attend to...and yes, a lot of them have a completely different side to them.

Check out more adorable photos of Porter and his daughter on Kyndal Rose Photography'sFacebook page.

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Check out this Marine Corps drill instructor at an adorable tea party with his young daughter - Marine Corps Times

My father-in-law was a rugged man, a man of duty and honor. He wore Levi jeans and scuffed boots, dirtied from years of chores on the family farm in Iowa. He had no romantic notions about farm life, or about his years as a decorated Army Ranger captain.

There were hard years, really hard years. There were foxholes. And death.

He didnt talk much about it, and though we wished he would have, we respected his silence.

He simply kept his hand on the barn door, the tractor wheel, and the hymnal on Sunday mornings.

But the image none of us will ever forget is this one: those same calloused hands held dainty teacups. The distinguished Army captain was the most gracious host of tea parties, which he held in honor of his granddaughters.

This is one of the fondest memories that my girls have of their Grandpa Paul. Hed sit cross-legged with them on the porch of his house, under the shade of a giant tree. Hed stir muddy water, and engage in polite conversation, and pretend to eat cookies, which were actually landscaping rocks set upon fragile saucers.

I was always struck by the tenderness and humility of my father-in-law. Looking back on it now, I know that the same core values motivated both his service in the military, and his impromptu tea parties: A deep love of people and of country.

I thought about all of that again yesterday when a friend sent me a link to a story about a Marine dad who took part in a magical tea party with his 4-year-old daughter. The tea party came with an accompanying photo shoot. It was all a surprise for the dad, a U.S. Marine Corps drill instructor.

His wife told reporters that he was hesitant at first. But he did it anyway, and we can all thank him for that. The images are truly heartwarming.

In uniform, the Marine folded himself into a tiny chair, across the table from his dimple-cheeked girl. He poured tea from a kettle. He kissed her hand.

She beamed. Shell never forget it, Im certain of that. Shell never forget her brave daddy sitting across the table from her.

Looking at the photos, I remember a truth about the bravest people I know. They arent too afraid to make themselves small. They understand that humility and kindness arent signs of weakness, but virtues of the brave. The bravest people I know arent too big to sit in child-sized chairs and sip tea, with the sole aim of making someone elses heart soar.

Our daughter Anna doesnt remember much about her Grandpa Paul. She was only four when he died the same age as the girl in the photo shoot. Of the handful of memories that Anna does have, the tea parties are the most prominent.

Grandpa Paul died in 2009 of leukemia. He was 67. His doctors said his illness was brought on by all of the Agent Orange that he was exposed to during the Vietnam War.

Like most soldiers, he didnt go down without a fight.

On a January morning in Iowa one mile south of his farm, in the church where his sturdy hands held the hymnal an American flag was draped over his casket. We walked out the back of the church behind the pallbearers. His old military buddies were standing there waiting for us.

I dont think Im imagining the tears in their eyes. And if I am imagining the tears, well let me believe they were real.

Paul Lees tour of duty had ended. His American Legion pals with their navy-blue hats, trimmed in gold -- folded that flag into a triangle and handed it to his wife.

Those men were grandpas and retired farmers and members of the church choir. They probably hosted a few tea parties themselves, over the years.

Heres what I believe about men and women like that: I believe that you dont lose your Bravery Card when you show up at a tea party. When you hand a grieving widow a flag, with tears in your own eyes. When you take the time to be tender.

When you simply love.

Yeah, Im just a person who watched those tea parties from a distance, while standing beneath a shade tree. But I do know this: the tenderest moments of our lives are likely the moments our loved ones will carry the longest.

And that tenderness doesn't weaken our warrior spirit. It strengthens it.

Jennifer Dukes Lee is the author of "The Happiness Dare." She blogs about happiness and faith at http://www.JenniferDukesLee.com. She would love to connect with you onFacebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Lessons for life from a tea party with a Marine - Fox News

AUSTIN - Tea party activists pressured Republican House members Monday to side with them on key issues including sanctuary cities, the so-called bathroom bill and local property taxes or face their wrath at the ballot box.

We do appreciate the way that the Senate has moved forward with a number of conservative reforms We have 95 Republicans in the House, and they cant seem to get some measures passed, said JoAnn Fleming, executive director of Grassroots America.

Elected Republicans just the way its happening in Washington have determined that they dont care what the (Republican) platform says. They dont care what their primary voters have said They just frankly do not care, said Fleming. And I submit to you, the people of Texas need to make them care. Because after all, we hired them to do a job at the ballot box.

If they come up here and they get a C rating, you need to fire them at the ballot box, she said, suggesting that anything short of full support of tea party issues isnt enough.

Fleming was joined by advocates for a host of issues at a Capitol news conference on Tea Party Day, when some of the most fervent GOP primary voters came to rally, present their issues and buttonhole lawmakers.

Their force helps explain why a number of House Republicans are pressing for their own version of the so-called bathroom bill approved by the Senate. House Speaker Joe Straus, R-Straus, opposes the Senate measure championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Straus and others have expressed concern over the potential economic implications for the state if it passes a law seen as discriminatory, and a number consider the bill a side issue.

The Senate measure would require people using restrooms in public schools, universities and government buildings to choose the facilities that align with the gender on their birth certificate. Although backers have said its aimed at sexual predators, it would affect transgender people. The House State Affairs Committee this week will consider a measure that would target local non-discrimination ordinances in addressing the matter of public bathrooms.

The House is now beginning to get a little traction, said Dana Hodges, state director of Concerned Women for America. Were asking all of our members, and Im asking all the people here today, the tea party people here today, to contact your state representative and let them know where you stand on this issue. Let your voice be heard.

The bathroom bill was among a slew of measures cited by advocates, which included anti-abortion, budget, tax, religious liberty, gun rights, toll road and sanctuary city legislation.

Fleming lambasted the House committee version of legislation against sanctuary cities, which are seen as providing a haven for undocumented immigrants by not complying enthusiastically with federal authorities. Its awaiting a vote by the full House. A number of local law enforcement officials have expressed concern over a bill earlier passed by the Senate, saying it would interfere with effective community policing.

Tea party grassroots activists are going to call it out if a bill is approved that doesnt pass muster in their view, Fleming said.

We will absolutely not tell this nation that we have passed a ban on sanctuary cities if we dont actually do it, Fleming said, pointing out that Gov. Greg Abbott has nationally trumpeted the prospect of a Texas ban. The time for fairy tales coming out of this Capitol and spreading all over the country needs to stop.

State Affairs Chairman Byron Cook, whose committee came under particular criticism from Fleming for passing its version of sanctuary cities legislation and whose seat has been targeted in the past by tea party activists, described his work in a way that suggests it has a broader focus.

We have to do whats right. We have to be thoughtful. We have to ensure that things we do are constitutional, Cook, R-Corsicana, told the Express-News. Weve got to focus on core issues, such as education; services for the states most vulnerable, such as those in the child protective services system; and infrastructure needs in a growing state.

Aaron Harris, executive director of Direct Action Texas, touted a Senate-approved bill to restrict how much local property tax revenue can be raised by cities or counties without an automatic election. Local entities say the measure would endanger the funding needed for basic services including public safety. Its awaiting House action.

People are hot. Theyre mad about their property taxes, Harris said. This is the single biggest issue at the local level we encounter as we go around and talk to taxpayers and residents. And Ill tell you this, they will remember this bill, come election season.

Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson said the tea party plays a powerful role but its support isnt determinative. Much will be determined by tradeoffs yet to be made among Abbott, Patrick and Straus as the legislative session barrels toward its Memorial Day ending, he pointed out.

The tea party is still a powerful force in Texas politics, and particularly within the Republican primary electorate, he said. Republican incumbents do listen to the tea party, but theyre not driven by then. They havent been in the past and they wont be this session.

pfikac@express-news.net

Twitter: @pfikac

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Tea party activists threaten consequences if priority bills fail in the Texas Legislature - mySanAntonio.com