TexasTripper Travel Blog

Austin Additions: From Outlets to Performing Arts

Those of you who have been to Austin lately know how much (how very, very much) the capital city is growing. We wrote last week about the opening of the new Blanton Art Museum but you can also look forward to these additions in the coming months:

Round Rock Premium Outlets (opening Aug. 2006) - The 120-outlet center along IH-35 North in nearby Round Rock will offer discount shops for apparel, shoes, fashion accessories, leather goods, home furnishings and gifts. The single level outdoor village follows the architectural scheme of the Texas Hill Country.

IKEA (Under construction - projected opening Spring 2007) - The Swedish retailer comes to Central Texas with a 250,000-square-foot store located next to the new Round Rock Premium Outlet. The mega shopping experience includes 50 different room settings, three complete homes, a children’s play area and restaurant specializing in Swedish foods.

Austin Market District (Construction begins 2006) - This project includes the redevelopment and expansion of the old Whole Foods building, which still houses the city’s largest independent bookstore, BookPeople. It also adds retailers such as Anthropologie and REI as well as restaurants and office space to the intersection of Sixth Street & Lamar Boulevard.

Mexican-American Cultural Center (Under construction - projected opening March 2007) - This 126,000-square-foot cultural center will be dedicated to the preservation, creation, presentation and promotion of Mexican-American cultural arts and heritage.

Domain Shopping Center (Under construction - projected opening Spring 2007) - Texas-based Neiman Marcus anchors an upscale shopping center in northwest Austin that also features 70 other restaurants and stores, including another new Whole Foods Market. Mopac Boulevard (Loop 1) between Braker Lane and Burnet Road.

Long Center for the Performing Arts (under construction, projected opening March 2008) - This project, located at the site of the old Palmer Auditorium, is the centerpiece of a 54-acre cultural park on the shores of Town Lake. The center will provide a permanent home for performances of the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Austin and Austin Lyric Opera, as well as performance space for some 200 smaller performing arts groups in Central Texas.

Labels: Hill Country

posted by Paris & John @ 1:14 PM