Love Banh Mi, those delectable little Vietnamese sandwiches? Café Au Lait is a favorite place to get them in Ellicott City, a place where you can sip some freshly brewed coffee and tea drinks.

If you haven’t tried them, you should: Banh Mi consist of meats, fresh and pickled veggies, and herbs sandwiched between a sliced French roll. The Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi has grilled chicken, pickled carrots, daikon, cucumbers & cilantro. Opt for the Pork Roll Banh Mi and you get roast pork, pate, ham, lettuce, cilantro, cucumber, jalapeno, carrot, butter and mayonnaise. Entrée salads are also on the menu, as are wraps. Stop by for breakfast and feast on croissants and bagels with cream cheese, or an egg bagel sandwich. Coffee, tea and smoothies are also served.

Cafe Au Lair
3290 N. Ridge Road Suite 105
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 313-8838
https://www.facebook.com/cafeaulaitec
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-au-lait-ellicott-city

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr r.g-s

You’re not exactly a pack rat, but you definitely have more than a few items in the back of your closet that you haven’t looked at in a few years. Most people would say that their homes could benefit from a bit of de-cluttering, and these helpful tips will show you just how to do it.

• Keep papers within reach. By keeping papers within eyesight, you’ll be more likely to deal with your paper mess before it accumulates into something much more difficult to manage.
• Ask a few questions. When you’re going through the items in your home, ask yourself questions like: Have I used this in the past year? Does this benefit my life? Is it broken? If, so can I fix it? If you say no to most of these questions, put it in the donation pile.
• Create a donation pile. Speaking of that donation pile, start one! You’ll feel a lot less guilty about getting rid of your unused items if you know they’re going to someone who will really appreciate them.
• Clear off surfaces. After you clean out hidden spaces like closets and under the bed, make a rule that you’ll always keep surfaces like counters and desks free of clutter. Not only will your home feel more organized, this will ensure that it looks more organized, as well.

18 Five-Minute Decluttering Tips to Start Conquering Your Mess [Zen Habits]
25 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter [Good Housekeeping]
Keep or Toss: Questions & Tips to Help You Declutter [Apartment Therapy]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Carodean Road Designs

Maryland boasts three Earth Treks Climbing Centers, including one in Columbia, and they're more than just climbing gyms. Earth Treks serve as watering holes for the local community of climbers, which you can join yourself with just a single visit to the gym. Take an introductory class to learn the basics and then embark on a journey up the walls, which are designed to evoke the great outdoors.

The Earth Treks in Columbia encompasses a whopping 20,000 square feet of climbing space, so you can expect to experience a new route every single time. It helps that staff continuously switches up the routes, too, so even the most seasoned climbers will encounter new challenges with each visit. Go bouldering in a separate area dedicated entirely to this freestyle sport, boost your strength and endurance in the typical gym area, or attend a private class to enhance your existing skills.

Earth Treks Climbing Centers
7125 Columbia Gateway Drive
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 872-0060
www.earthtreksclimbing.com/md
www.yelp.com/biz/earth-treks-climbing-centers-columbia-columbia

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr wwarby