Sunday, September 5: How many ways can you cook a yam? Apparently, a lot. Find out all of the myriad methods at an all-day tribute to the yellow potato-like tuber, while enjoying other Caribbean and African dishes. After filling your stomach, feast your eyes and and fill your ears with films and live music. It’s all part of the run-up to Monday’s carnival.

Monday, September 6: Back-to-school shopping used to suck — but that was before you could shop while sipping on a mojito. Come to Habana Café, where owner Sean Meenan (pictured) will have gifts the whole family can enjoy: pencils and notebooks for the kids and booze for the parents.

Tuesday, September 7: Dracula bites. In this cult-classic horror film from the 1970s, a nibble from Transylvania’s Public Enemy Number 1 transforms an African prince into Blacula — the black Dracula. Two hundred years later, Blacula awakens and runs wild in Los Angeles, sucking on bloody necks and Bloody Marys. It wasn’t billed as a comedy when it came out, but believe us, it is.

Wednesday, September 8: Didn’t do much with those degrees in English and Philosophy? You’re not alone. Join comedian Ophira Eisenberg (pictured) as she hosts “Top Shelf Stories — You Went to College For That?” with storytellers from “This American Life” and The Moth. They’ll whine about those days on campus, but you know they got more action than you did.

Friday, September 10: The streetscape says Brooklyn, but for three days, at least, the music says country. Alex Battles (pictured) will host the annual “Brooklyn Country Music Festival” at Southpaw, presenting an all-local lineup of original artists that begins tonight. Make sure to catch banjo-plucking band The Woes on the opening night of this three-day hootenanny.