While millions of people celebrated Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration in Chocolate City, some New Yorkers kept it local and did their own thing. Pepsi hosted a Black Tie Blue Jeans Downtown Inaugural Ball at La Esquina, Serge Becker’s Mexican underground eatery. In Big Apple style Maxwell, Universal/Motown’s Sylvia Rhone, Artist Francesco Clemente, fashion advocate Bethann Hardison, Sean John’s Dao-Yi Chow, DJ Victor Calderone and many other taste makers basked in the glow of this historical moment. The menu: Delicious Mexican food, Don Julio Tequila, Pepsi floats (yes, the yummy mix of vanilla ice cream and soda) and hip hop beats by DJ Reach. What more could you ask for when celebrating one of the most important days in our lives? Caption: Happy Obama Day!

Check out my snapshots of the evening.

I really get off on other people doing my job for me. So just before New Year’s Eve, I asked DJ Reach about the 5 songs he liked the most in 2008, and what he’ll be spinning on the big day. And yea, I realize that NYE was definitely, like, 15 days ago, but I’m a busy girl. Sue me.

The LAVO Las Vegas resident DJ spun the following five cuts at the club’s New Year’s Eve blowout. Personally, I kind of love this list, despite the fact that I’ve heard all five songs at least 23478209742098735234 times over the past few months. I guess they just never get old.

LIL WAYNE – “A MILLI”

MIA – “PAPER PLANES”

YOUNG JEEZY FEAT. JAY Z – “PUT ON” (REMIX)

KID CUDI – “DAY AND NIGHT” (CROOKERS REMIX)

MGMT – “ELECTRIC FEEL”