Sway's Jungle curry is fittingly named, given that it exudes the heat of the jungle. That's thanks to its red chili and peppercorn, which spice up the Texas wagyu beef, eggplant, baby corn, and coconut cream base. This careful balance of spicy tones with other complex flavors results in a dish that has won rave reviews from more than 100 Yelpers. This should come as no surprise to anyone who's ever dined at Sway. The eatery is notorious for recreating classic Thai dishes in a way that delights taste buds.

The Son in Law entree also earns high marks from regulars, and not just for its creative name. This braised pork dish comes with a crispy, farm-fresh egg and soy smothered in a classic Thai sauce known as nahm prik pla. If you prefer beef to pork, try the equally popular Tiger Cry dish instead. It showcases chargrilled hanger steak seasoned with Thai basil, red chili nahm jim, fresno chile, and served with toasted rice and spicy nahm prik pao jam.

Sway
1417 S. 1st Street
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 326-1999
swayaustin.com
www.yelp.com/biz/sway-austin

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Maëlick

While you try to recycle everything that you can, you might still feel guilty about just how many plastic bags that you get from the grocery store each week. Instead of tossing them in the recycling bin, try one of these fun and creative tips for making something new out of your old plastic bags.

• Use old scrap fabric and a few plastic bags to create a cute crinkle toy. Simply sew the fabric into a square pouch, bunch up a few plastic bags inside and sew it shut for a fun toy that makes a noisy crinkling sound.
• Make plastic “plarn” for crocheting by slicing a plastic bag into strips lengthwise, taking care to keep the strips in loops. Simply loop the two together using a slipknot to create a long string of plastic yarn that you can use for crocheting placemats, rugs or coasters.
• Make a jump rope by cutting a bag into six strips, then braiding those strips together like you would a friendship bracelet. Do the same with another six strips, then twist the two braids together into one long, sturdy rope. Wrap the ends in duct tape to create handles, then get outside and enjoy your new jump rope.
• If crafting isn’t really your thing, you can always gather your old plastic bags and return them to the store that you got them from.

10 Uses for Plastic Bags [This Old House]
16 Ways to Reuse Plastic Bags [Care 2]
Designer MacGyver: 5 Clever Plastic Bag Crafts [HGTV]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr dayblakelydonaldson

If you frequently peruse the South Congress shopping district and have yet to stop by Tesoros Trading Company, then you should make it a point to drop by on your next outing. Inside, you'll find a large selection of one-of-a-kind goods from all over the world, as well as items made here in the United States.

Tesoros is dedicated to providing customers with ethically sourced goods that help support the artisans' local communities. The shelves are crammed with interesting things to look at, especially "little somethings" that can make a great birthday gift or thoughtful trinket. Among the selection is musical instruments, dolls, folk art, weavings, and more. Be sure to look through the jewelry for a piece to complement your outfit, and keep an eye out for in-store trunk shows.

Tesoros Trading Company
1500 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 447-7500
www.tesoros.com/homepage.html
www.yelp.com/biz/tesoros-trading-company-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/cobblucas