Features

44 Washingtonians of the Year

For 39 years, The Washingtonian has honored people who bring help and hope to the neediest among us, give at-risk children a chance, enrich our educational and cultural lives, and make Washington a better place for all. Here are 12 more local heroes. By Leslie Milk.

54 Silent Stars

A suicide bomber in Afghanistan killed seven of the CIA’s own, including one of its best terrorist trackers. New details about Jennifer Matthews and her secretive life provide an inside look at a bloody and unfinished war. By Jennifer Skalka.

58 Top House Sales

A real-estate exec dropped $7.6 million in Cleveland Park, and a Redskin paid $2.2 million in Great Falls. Check out what other VIPs paid for homes in the year’s biggest deals.

62 The Freshmen

The new class of the 112th Congress is the largest in years—nearly 100 newcomers representing 39 states. Their varied backgrounds and heritages underscore why the House of Representatives is known as the People’s House. Photographs by Chris Leaman; interviews by Garrett M. Graff.

74 100 Very Best Restaurants

Our guide to the finest dining in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Plus—critics pick their favorite dishes; what’s in and what’s out; Restaurateur of the Year; trends our critics love; and 24 top chefs tell all. By Todd Kliman, Ann Limpert, Kate Nerenberg, and Rina Rapuano.

Departments

8 Editor’s Notes

The Washington Business Hall of Fame honored five new laureates and raised more than $1 million for Junior Achievement.

11 Capital Comment

Wizards by any other name . . . Most popular library books and DVDs in each community . . . The unknowns behind FamousDC . . . A posh perch for a lucky turkey . . . Lawyers lower their rates! . . . Good Washington reads . . . Arguing in front of the Supremes . . . Post bleeds brand names, gets new guy at the White House.

24 Where & When

B.B. King at the Birchmere . . . Renée Fleming at the KenCen . . . Joshua Bell at Strathmore . . . A Comedy of Errors at the Folger . . . Anna Deavere Smith at Arena . . . Orchids at Natural History . . . John Oliver at DC Improv . . . German films at E Street.

31 Can He Move the Chains?

Whether the Redskins suit up next fall will depend on DeMaurice Smith’s off-the-field strategy. It may be a nail biter. By Luke Mullins.

34 The Masterpiece in the Garden

Evelyn Nef mingled with great intellects and artists and left no stone unturned when it came to living. She even made sure her cherished possession would be shared by millions after she was gone. By Susan Baer.

115 Best of Tysons, Vienna, and McLean

Good restaurants, unusual shops, and relaxing spas. Here’s a guide to dining, shopping, real estate, and more in one of the region’s fastest-growing hubs. Plus—where the locals go. Edited by Mary Clare Glover.

131 New Year, New You

Want to update your wardrobe? Your makeup? Your hairstyle? With these six exclusive reader deals, you get a new look—and save. By McLean Robbins.

132 Great Finds

Many men invest in only two pieces of fine jewelry—a wedding band and a watch. Here are some timepieces fit for a spy. By Jill Hudson Neal.

135 How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Don’t get enough rest? Experts in a sleep lab can help you figure out why. Plus—finding a sleep center, insomnia cures that work, and searching for the right mattress. By Ellen Perlman, Cathy Alter, and Caitlin Fairchild.

154 Benefits

Good times for good causes in January. By Eleni Savopoulos.

171 The Odd Couple

Who says big and small dogs can’t become the best of friends? By Katie Knorovsky.

183 Under the Bright Lights

At 16 June Schreiner is in Arena Stage’s Oklahoma!, and everything’s going her way. By Sophie Gilbert.

184 Road Trip

Getting laid off as a TV reporter shook her up. Meeting other Americans around the country gave her hope. By Andrea McCarren.