H&M in Harlem. Renewed and Redo with Sylvia's to Refuel.

By Michelle Zimmerman, NY Correspondent

After their initial opening in Harlem, this renovated and renewed H&M is refreshed with a new store front, a chic staircase, and an airy, second floor balcony.

The new interior design had a nice, open feeling and a good energy flow throughout, although the writer noticed the lingerie dept was pretty tiny in comparison with the four or five H&M's in SoHo and on 34th and 5th ave, etc.

The Eighties are back with the Back To School Deals.

The cool thing there was they have "Fashion Finds under $15" and they have great signage throughout the store highlighting these great deals, most of the items are basics but this is good for the bargainista trying to build a wardrobe, or someone that wants to load up on staples or update their staples with adding on a splash of energetic, retro Eighties' New Wave graphics.

The writer discovered the $10 mens denim jeans, waiting around to catch any man trying them on, curious to see how they fit for $10 but no luck.

But, the store itself lends to a jewelry mood, the expanded windows, the glass staircase, the spacious second floor balcony, dressed up with a Toledosque mural, providing fashion credibility, makes for a light-hearted presentation to cheer people up, a respite from the hectic streets outside.

Cultural institution of Southern Comfort Food, Sylvia's, catered the appetizers.

After the writer poked around, she met the owner, Ken Woods. His mother is the famous Sylvia, the woman behind the name.

This Southern Comfort Food restaurant is a neighborhood fixture for forty-eight years.

Wandering around the corner after the event, she realizes the restaurant occupies almost the whole block, with the original restaurant, and their newer locale, Sylvia's Also.

Walking in, there was a group of people doing karaoke and some old cats hanging out at the bar.

Ken walked over to see if she found the place, and mentioned to her that they have a pretty awesome Comedy Night on Wednesdays...

Then, she saw a review from Craines magazine on the wall at the restaurant, it said they did $5 million a year in sales, I think that's why they have that free annual community breakfast. Nice, huh?

Go to www.sylviarestaurant.com, find it, then fuel up there before hitting H&M or refuel after shopping and checking out Harlem.

This where the Old Harlem meets the New Harlem, together, hand-in-hand, Harlem moves fashionably moves forward without losing its footing.