Daily Detours for the Week of October 23

Cure any Mondayitis with a heaping serve of meat, cheese and carbs by ordering a Bar Luca burger special. Changing weekly, the burgers can be outrageous with heaps of cheese, layers of various meats and/or off-centre combos (see: crunchy peanut butter with onion and redcurrant jelly on a cheeseburger), but more importantly, they’re downright delicious. If this week’s special doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can always opt for the favourite Blame Canada featuring maple bacon, maple aioli, poutine and cheese all on a juicy wagyu patty. Either way, get your order to go because, from Bar Luca, it’s only a short, 10-minute stroll to Bennelong Lawn: the ideal place to spend the rest of the evening tucking into a glorious burg, watching the sun go down over the harbour.

Give Netflix the night off and invest generously in your local art scene by strolling over to The Old Fitz Theatre for dinner and a show. With a number of fearless and dynamic performances, Red Line Productions programs some of the most challenging theatre in Sydney, and in light of recent art funding cuts, these young writers, actors and producers could use all the spare dimes they can get. So why not throw them a money bone and catch them on a Tuesday? You’ll score cheap tickets and a hearty bowl of pasta for less than $50 — a pretty sweet deal, we’d say.

Go on, reward yourself this hump day. Round up some friends and drop into The Paddington for their $58 banquet. Earlier this year, the farm-style restaurant was awarded one chef hat, so you know the food will be good. Featuring a no-fuss menu, The Paddington is known and loved for its perfectly roasted chook. And by going the banquet route, you’ll get a big serve of that tasty chicken, plus beautifully roasted veg, and let’s not forget the not one but three desserts, including the generously heaped chocolate mousse with salted caramel and chocolate crunchy bits. Quite possibly one of the best desserts in Sydney.

Sydney has a lot of outdoor pools in stunning spots, but one of the oldest and most iconic is the Andrew “Boy” Charlton Pool near the Royal Botanic Gardens. Duck out from your desk on Thursday, and head to the pool for some picturesque laps. Overlooking Wooloomooloo, the saltwater pool is heated to a fresh 25 degrees so you’ll be refreshed but not totally chilled as you sneak away from under the fluorescents and into the sunshine.

For fans of beautifully made things, there can never be too many design markets. Now, the women behind Authentic Design Alliance and Factory Design District have announced another. DESIGN-MADE spans three days this weekend and focuses on genuinely original, accessible and sustainable design pieces. The event will be held across two venues — SUNSTUDIOS and the Fisher and Paykel Experience Centre — and is more than just a market. While the phrase ‘a celebration of Australian design’ is a little cheesy, it’s probably more accurate. Expect educational talks, book signings, workshops, installations and ‘meet the maker’ forums. Of course, there will also be craft beer, organic wine, yum cha and food trucks to fuel your browsing.

Image: Fiona Susanto.

A huge celebration of food, music and culture is coming to Liverpool in the form of Eat Your Heart Out — a collaboration between local creatives and the Liverpool City Council. The one-day festival will feature a stellar line-up of musicians curated by FBi Radio, artists and food trucks. Alongside performances, a collection of food trucks will form a mobile food court for the day, with old hands and newbies alike settling in to share their fodder. Miss Mabel’s combines seasonal, organic and free-range produce with Asian, Mexican and Deep South cooking styles, while Sakura on Wheelz will offer an extensive, traditional Japanese menu. Fried chicken specialists at Dirty Bird Food Truck will dish up Dirty Wings, Crack Burgers and shoestring fries, and The Donut Dealer will be true to their name and offer an array of extravagant, rotund doughy treats.

Wandering around Manly by foot on a Sunday is great, sure, but wandering around Manly by bike is even better. If you don’t already possess a set of wheels, Manly Bike Tours has you covered with a wide range of bikes for hire including cruisers, road bikes, kids’ bikes and tandems. Once you’ve got your wheels, choose your path from a number of tracks suitable for all skill levels — the scenic Sydney Harbour National Park Explorer, the more strenuous Mountain Bike Manly Dam and the stunning Bike the Beach rides. You’ll be equipped with a map, and then you’re free to ride along at your own pace. Also, because you’re not part of a larger guided tour, you can stop any time for snacks or a break, or to just take in the view for as long as you like.

Personalise your next adventure via The Playmaker, driven by Mazda3.