In my former job as Nation & World editor at the Raleigh paper, I knew where to look for a good "scene" story: Anthony Shadid, a reporter for The Washington Post. Shadid consistently captures the tone of a situation, and his stories are always rich with details and quotes. His stories, ostensibly sidebars, are often more informative than the straight news on the diplomatic and military developments.
This story from Lebanon is a good example of his work. (Registration may be required.)
