That's right. We recall her lamenting over the T.J. Maxx purse stolen from her car at a gas station this year.

On with the Christmas list. "I know Vince and Tommy Thomas [D-Ward 5] are baseball fans, so I got them both an autographed Negro league baseball," she said.

"Jim Graham, I got him a tea set," Alexander said.

Does Graham like tea? "I don't know, but I can see him eating tea and crumpets and unwinding after a long day," she said.

Maybe it's the bow ties.

And for council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8)? "I gave him the Sports Illustrated swimsuit calendar," Alexander said. "I thought that fit him well."

According to his staff, Barry gave the men sweaters and the women charm bracelets and fragrances from Victoria's Secret.

So some of them know how to give good gifts, but can the council throw a good party? Drinks, a carving station, a small band with some soulful tunes and a caricature artist made for a good time for council members and their staffs at the Hyatt Regency near the Capitol last week.

Our favorite touch was a council quiz created by Dawn Slonneger, Gray's chief of staff.

The test of council trivia included a challenge to identify a member's signature vs. a staff forgery. Apparently, council members Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) and Carol Schwartz (R-At Large) do not permit staff members to be their scribes, so those workers were out of practice. Others were very close if not right on. Mary Cheh, watch your checkbook.

We thought we knew the real Barry signature, but that turned out to be a trick question. Neither signature was his.

Unfortunately, scanning those John Hancocks for the Notebook would have taken up a lot of room in this year-end edition, but please enjoy the rest of the quiz. See whether you know who eats what and who said what. Hint: Some members are more quotable than others.