The Silver Spring Penguin

Caffeine gives me terrible headaches, but an Ethiopian coffee ceremony is always worth the throbbing temples and searing pain.

Traditional Ethiopian coffee is high-octane stuff served in something no bigger than a shot glass. Forget that it’ll put hair on your chest (which will require hardcore waxing). The caffeine high packs a wallop and leaves your skull ringing for hours.

Catch a coffee ceremony and some good Ethiopian eats Saturday night at The Lenox apartment building, or get a taste of these other events:

Thursday

6:30 p.m. In case your weekend is booked, Montgomery Blair High School (51 University Blvd E) adds one more performance of the musical “Beauty and the Beast”. Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for students and seniors.

Friday

6:30 p.m. Kefa Cafe’s Space 7:10 (963 Bonifant St) hosts a reception for painter Elsa Gebreyesus, whose work appears in the gallery until Apr 4. The event is free; the double espresso will cost you.

7:30 p.m. Montgomery Blair High School (51 University Blvd E) presents the musical “Beauty and the Beast”. Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for students and seniors.

8:00 p.m. Prep yourself for St Patty’s Day with the comedy “The Cripple of Inishmaan”. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) hosts that event. Tickets are $15 to $18.

8:00 p.m. The Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd) presents “Cyrano”, adapted by Jo Roets and performed by area teens. Tickets are $15 each.

Saturday

5:00 p.m. The Gateway Heliport Gallery (8001 Kennett St) hosts a discussion with artists participating in the current “Sing and Celebrate Women’s Day” exhibit. The evening includes a screening of the documentary “My Dead Husband’s Land”, on the HIV/AIDS crisis in Kenya. This event is free and open to the public.

5:00 p.m. Messert Ethiopia, a nonprofit group serving children in Ethiopia, celebrates its tenth anniversary with a traditional dinner, coffee ceremony and fundraising auction. The Lenox apartment building (1400 East-West Hwy) hosts the event in its 17th floor party room. Admission is $20 for adults ($5 for children).

7:30 p.m. Montgomery Blair High School (51 University Blvd E) presents the musical “Beauty and the Beast”. Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for students and seniors.

8:00 p.m. Prep yourself for St Patty’s Day with the comedy “The Cripple of Inishmaan”. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) hosts that event. Tickets are $15 to $18.

8:00 p.m. The Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd) presents “Cyrano”, adapted by Jo Roets and performed by area teens. Tickets are $15 each.

Sunday

2:00 p.m. Prep yourself for St Patty’s Day with the comedy “The Cripple of Inishmaan”. The Silver Spring Stage (10145 Colesville Rd) hosts that event. Tickets are $15 to $18.

3:00 p.m. The Round House Theatre (8641 Colesville Rd) presents “Cyrano”, adapted by Jo Roets and performed by area teens. Tickets are $15 each.

Photo: Basic gear for an old fashioned coffee ceremony, as displayed at a previous Messert Ethiopia function. Credit: J. Deseo/SSP.