“秋茄子は嫁に食わすな。”¹

Geek Out

村上隆の作品を見に行く。If GONY seems preoccupied with Japan lately, it’s because I’m preparing to head over there next week. (Of course, I will be providing exclusive coverage during the 10-day visit.) As noted on these pages, before, though, you don’t have to sit through a mind-numbing, jet-lagging 13-hour flight to get a taste of Japan. This weekend sees the opening of the “© Murakami” show at the Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway), with more than 100 of the Japanese pop artist’s works. Highlights include “My Lonesome Cowboy,” featuring probably the most iconic spiral of cast-resin semen in all of modern art. The installation also features an operational Louis Vuitton shop, in keeping with Murakami’s groundbreaking use of branding in his creations.

Get your game show on. I grew up on game-show reruns, and while I feel blessed to have enjoyed the 1990s afternoon lineup on USA Network, my viewing was always tinged with disappointment, as I knew that I’d never get the chance to be a contestant on these great but long-canceled games. Fortunately, like-minded entertainers are working to salve these old wounds, like Sara Schaefer, who presides over a 9:15 p.m. playing of Name That Tune at Union Hall (702 Union Street) this Sunday.

Keep that Guy Smiley high going into the workweek with J. Keith van Stratten’s What’s My Line? Live on Stage, which runs Mondays at 8 p.m. through April 28 at the Barrow Street Theater (27 Barrow St.). I can’t vouch for the authenticity of Schaefer’s Park Slope NTT, but van Stratten’s WML is the officially licensed real deal, capturing the classy, art-deco vibe of the original. Whether your taste tends toward John Charles Daly or Larry Blyden, you should be pleased by this faithful, unironic adaptation.

Geek In

Weboggle your mind. OK,WordSplay changed its name from “Weboggle” a while ago, but all that means is none of the copyright threats plaguing Scrabulous. At heart, it’s still Weboggle, a full-featured implementation of Allan Turoff’s classic Boggle word game. Unlike the private, plodding pace of Scrabulous, you play WordSplay in three-minute bursts against dozens of opponents. Once you see your handle show up on the leaderboard, you’ll be sucked in, happily killing a few hours trying to top “wordsmyth” and “Donna from MASPETH” with your lexicographic virtuosity.

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1. According to a Japanese proverb that translates to “Don’t let your daughter eat autumn eggplants.” No, I don’t get it, either. ↑