![Washingtonian held its annual Best of Washington Party to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on July 21 at the National Building Museum.](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_cl-best-of-party.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Chris Leaman
![Area chefs bring their most impressive dishes to the party. Here, Bibiana's Nick Stefanelli portions out pasta.](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_scene-Nick-Stefanelli-of-Bibiana-ss.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Scott Suchman
![Shaza Andersen, CEO of party sponsor WashingtonFirst Bank, and guests upstairs at the VIP party.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_scene%20tony%20powell%20group.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Tony Powell
![Upstairs, guests snacked on trays of colorful cupcakes, while downstairs, ticket-holders got to test out the offerings of Washington's confectionery competitors.](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_scene-tp%20cupcakes.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Tony Powell
![And Coca-Cola helped wash all those food samples down.](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_scene-coke-cl.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Chris Leaman
![Some guests worked up a sweat at arcade games.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_cl%20hitting%20hammer.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Chris Leaman
![Williams & Connolly's Robert Barnett, USA Today Live Managing Editor Lauren Ashburn, and Washingtonian President Cathy Merrill Williams.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_scene%20tony%20powell.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Tony Powell
![Zaytinya's Mike Isabella was one of many local Top Chef alumns working or relaxing at the Best of Washington party.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_ss%20isabella.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Scott Suchman
![Some of the night's offerings were a little intimidating!](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_cl-lobster.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Chris Leaman
![But most chefs served up bite-sized helpings, the better to let guests try lots of different dishes.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_ss%20faux%20grois.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Scott Suchman
![El Southerland, Niki Charles and Kelly and Jason Bough.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_tp%20ppl.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Tony Powell
![The evening's theme was the Greatest Party in Town. Guests got their drinks at bars decorated like arcade stands.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_cl%20ppl%20at%20bar.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Chris Leaman
![And circus performers roamed the crowd.](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_scene-clown-cl.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Chris Leaman
![BMW had its latest models on display.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_scene%20cl%20bmw.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Chris Leaman
![Washingtonian Style Setters Rich Amons and Sharon Dougherty showed the rest of the crowd how to make a splash.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_tp%20sharon%20rich.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Tony Powell
![These brightly-colored lollipops were hot in demand.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_scene%20cl%20lollipop.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Chris Leaman
![PS 7 chef Peter Smith makes sure these serving spoons look just right.](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_scene-Peter-Smith-of-PS-7%27s-ss.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Scott Suchman
![Maryland candidate for Lieutenant Governor Mary Kane, Eleanor Merrill, National Building Museum president Chase Rynd, former Virgina Senator John Warner, and Washingtonian President Cathy Merrill Williams.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_tp%20cathy%20and%20group.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Tony Powell
![Through the night, photo booth and crowd pictures were projected on the big screen.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_cl%20sceney.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Chris Leaman
![If you were hungry for more than just a taste, some restaurants provided the equivalent of a full meal.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_ss%20art%20and%20soul%20brat.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Scott Suchman
![Top Chef contestant and local chef Timothy Dean and Washington, DC Deputy Mayor Valerie Santos.](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_scene-tp.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Tony Powell
![Chef's weren't the only one juggling a lot during the party.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_scene%20juggler%20cl.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Chris Leaman
![As the sun went down, the National Building Museum lit up.](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_scene%20best%20of%20glowing%20column%20cl.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Chris Leaman
![And guests lingered until the very end of the evening.](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_scene-tony-powell-sharon.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Tony Powell
![Best of Washington Party: Names and Faces](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_ss%20aerial%20shot.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Scott Suchman
![Best of Washington Party: Names and Faces](https://www.washingtonian.com/migration/gallery/assets/standard_scene%20lemon%20lager%20ss.jpg)
Best of Washington Party Photograph by Scott Suchman