Half-Elf

Half-Elves are, (duh) the children of humans and elves. They maintain many of the characteristics their elvish and human parents, only watered down: For example, they live a wee bit longer than humans (they don't hit venerable until they're over 100 years old) but remain vigorous to the end like the elves.

Typically the combination is human father/elven mother (for reasons outlined on the elf page). Also, the elven parent is almost always a high or wood elf; half-drow, merrows, gray elves, and what-not are incredibly rare unless there's a Drizzt clone on the prowl, using his/her inexplicably potent sexual charisma to pour forth their tainted seed upon the land to trouble the weary world.

In 4e, they have a +2 Constitution (from their human parentage), and a choice of +2 Wis or +2 Cha (presumably from Elven parentage). They make shitty rangers, which is also bizarre considering they're descended from the one race that can do it right. They do make pretty amazing bards, and half-elf bards have a specific paragon path dedicated to them.

On the other hand, they can warlord like a boss and they get a free encounter power from any class other than their own. If you like trawling through setting guides and back issues of magazines (or have CBLoader), half-elves are the class for you. The only downside is, you're playing a race with "elf" in the name, and nobody wants that.

An interesting example of half-elfish people are the race of numenor in the Silmarilion whos king was Elros Tar-Minyatur son of Eärendil and Elwing both half elves. Who were characterized by extremly long lives an irrational fear of death, being tricked by sauron into self-destruct and are the race from whom the people of gondor descended.

Get your DM to let you be half-dorf instead. Makes more sense, crunch-to-fluff-wise, and lets you be a race that's actually got a little man in it. See also Half-dwarf.

Also, if you ask to play a mixture of an elf and a dorf, your DM reserves the right to punt your nuts to Mars.

See also CrossBreads

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Human + Elf = Half-Elf

Half-Elf + Human = full Human, no 1/3 breads

Half-Elf + Elf = full Elf, no 1/3 breads

Half-Elf + Half-Elf = Half-Elf, but it rarely happens