Daily Detours for the Week of December 4

If you’ve never tried the cream puffs at Emperor’s Garden Bakery in Chinatown, today’s the day to fix that sad situation. As soon as you escape the office, make a beeline for the outpost on the corner of Hay and Dixon streets, and join the queue waiting for a taste of the venue’s famous Emperor Puffs. These hot little custard balls are sold straight from the oven and are well worth the wait. Plus, a single dollar buys you three of these babies so you can order as many as you want without putting a dent in your wallet. Craving even more sweet treats? Wander inside the bakery, where you’ll find moon cakes, chocolate eclairs, egg tarts and a whole bunch of other delectable nibbles.

Image: Alpha via Flickr.

If it’s one of those weeks that feels like an eternity — and it’s only Tuesday — it’s time to step up your mid-week relaxation game with a session in a float tank. KOA Recovery in Waterloo offers 60-minute floats for $79. First time giving flotation a go? Expect to spend an hour bobbing, feeling weightless in an egg-like bath filled with warm water and Epsom salts. Designed to block out all external distractions, spending time in a float tank has been shown to alleviate aches, stress, anxiety and depression, and even stimulate creativity. Just what your Tuesday slump needs.

After much hype and anticipation, The Lansdowne is officially back in business. If you still haven’t had a peek at the renovated space, swing by this evening to check out the new pool table, light-up dance floor, DJ booth and Playboy wall collages. Once you’ve had a poke around, grab a table and order the Mary’s Pizza. Yes, you read right; The Lansdowne has taken Sydney’s most iconic burger and done it in pizza form — with a crispy base topped with a beef patty, cheese, onion and pickles, then drenched in Mary’s special sauce. Once you’re satisfactorily stuffed, head downstairs for a go on the shiny new rock ‘n’ roll pinball machines.

When your Thursday is dragging a little, perk yourself right back up with a lunchtime excursion to cutting-edge gallery Firstdraft. One of our favourite galleries in the city, this democratic and daring artist-led initiative is all about experimental, ambitious and challenging art. The constantly rotating series of exhibitions includes works in a wide-variety of media, ranging from contemporary sculpture to video installations and everything in between. Spend 45 minutes here during your lunch hour discovering the December exhibitions, and you’ll leave feeling all inspired, energised and ready to breeze through the rest of the afternoon at work.

Finders Keepers is Australia’s longest-running arts and design market and is celebrating ten years of giving the city’s artisan producers that much-needed exposure. And this season’s going to be huge, with the markets being held just in time to knock out all that Christmas shopping you’ve been putting off. Yes, Mum will be upset if you don’t get her a present, and no, you really shouldn’t get Grandpa a pair of socks again. Inside, you’ll find quirky doll- and cat-head shaped candles from You, Me & Bones, ceramics by Sydney-favourites Bridget Bodenham and Mukumono Ceramics, stunning hand-stitched quilts by Aneau, leather goods by Tammy Luk and pickles and jams from Cornersmith. There’ll be wrapping paper and Christmas cards available, too.

A weekend feels so much longer when you escape the concrete — even just for a day. Scientists say that time spent in nature works much the same way as dog years — an hour in the bush is worth seven in the city (or something like that). So it’s really in the interest of your longevity to spend as much time in the sticks as possible. Sure it feels like a bit of a trek in itself to organise, but you’d be surprised how quickly you can get out of the hustle-and-bustle of the city. Get your fresh air fix by staying overnight in a sweet little cabin in Lane Cove, and then spending the next day exploring the stunning national park by foot, bike and rowboat.

In the mood for something a little different this Sunday? Pack a picnic and your swimmers, and take a trip out to Sydney Airport for a few hours of plane spotting. While there are heaps of places to get your plane spotting on, many of the city’s aviation enthusiasts flock to ‘The Beach’ for the especially epic views. Located to the east of the airport, near the old control tower, planes pass mere metres from the fence here — so close you could almost touch them. Extra points for being able to take a dip in the water between taxis and takeoffs.

Image: Tomi Joo via Plane Images.