The Domain is mixed-use facility in North Austin that features an outdoor shopping mall, apartments, and restaurants. Its first phase has been open for several years, and its second phase is currently under expansion in what is the largest ongoing retail construction in the city.

According to the Statesman, the new section of The Domain will feature 600,000 square feet of apartments, a luxury movie theater, several small retailers, and a Dillard's department store (the first new one in Austin in over 10 years). Most of the existing Domain retailers are luxury and designer shops, but the new stores will be more affordable options, such as Payless Shoes and Bath and Body Works. The movie theater will be like a fancy Alamo Drafthouse, with reclining chairs in small theaters and the ability to order food and drinks (tickets will be $20 a pop, according to the Statesman).

A Dick's Sporting Goods store recently opened in the new section of The Domain. Dillard's is set to open in Feb. of 2010, and there will also be a Westin Hotel opening in the new section of The Domain in the spring of 2010.

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Austin is yet again at the top of a list for cities performing well in a crummy economy. The Milken Institute recently released a report of the cities that performed best at creating and sustaining jobs in 2009. Texas metro areas took three of the top 10 spots.

The Austin-Round Rock metro was ranked No. 4 last year, but came in at No. 1. This year. The Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood area rose from 13th place to second. The Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metro went from up from 16th to 5th place this year.

The Milken Institute says regional economic factors were major influencers, and the industries with most stability were technology, alternative energy, and the oil and gas industry.

Austin's strong tech industry is what boosted it to first place. It is also the first time a metro has been ranked No. 1 twice on this index (we were No. 1 in 2000). According to the Institute, "Another factor helping Texas metros move up in the rankings is that state's favorable business climate and its ability to attract jobs and corporations away from higher-cost states."

The index was calculated based on employment and salary growth both in the short term and long term. Additionally, they measured technology output growth "because of technology's crucial role in creating good jobs and driving regional economies."

As I mentioned in the last post, I'm blogging live at Austin Lyric Opera's 2009-2010 season opener, La Boheme. We are currently in the first intermission of the four-act opera.

The talent on the stage is incredible, in addition to that of the orchestra below. The set design is also top-notch; the second act takes place in the Latin Quarter of Paris. The set was colorful and full of suspended old Parisian paintings in the style of Toulouse-Lautrec. A real marching band came out and the second act ended with a stage full of colorfully-dressed characters, dancing children, and sky-high musical notes from the excellent cast. Right now, all of the audience is mingling over a free glass of champagne provided by Austin Lyric Opera in celebration of the season opening. Once intermission is over, there are two more acts to go. The tone and lyrics have been very humorous and playful so far, but as we all know, it will get darker toward the end. I'm looking forward to the rest.

Have you ever seen La Boheme performed? For those of you who don't know, the Broadway musical (and the movie) "Rent" were based off this opera.

Austin Lyric Opera is kicking off its 2009-2010 season with La Boheme tonight. There will be shows on Nov. 7, 11, 13, and 15 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

I'm currently blogging from the orchestra level of the Long Center's Lobby. The theme of tonight's season-opening gala is "An Evening in Paris." The opera takes place in Paris in around 1830. A large replica of the Arc de Triomphe sits above the top of the Long Center's grand stairs, so each patron walks through it as they arrive. Outside on the Pavillion, there is a roped off area for patrons only, which features a large replica of the Eiffel Tower in addition to old-style lamplights, and even painters. As you can imagine, those mingling in that area are dressed to the nines! I'm seeing many gowns, gorgeous updos, some fur despite the warm weather, and even a top hat and a tiara.

They just rang the bell -- it's time to get seated! More later.