Trying to get a jQuery-UI datepicker with a "clear" button on it is surprisingly difficult.

clearabledatepicker.js

$(function() {
    var datePickerCloseEventBound = false, currentDateInput
    enableClearDatePickerButton = function(dateInput) {
        currentDateInput = dateInput

        if (datePickerCloseEventBound) return;

        // sadly. the .ui-datepicker-close button doesn't exist yet :(
        $('.ui-datepicker-close').click(function() {
            $(currentDateInput).val('')
        })

        datePickerCloseEventBound = true
    }

    $('.datepicker').datepicker({
        showAnim:        'blind',
        showOn:          'button',
        buttonImageOnly: true,
        showButtonPanel: true,
        closeText:       'Clear',
        beforeShow:      enableClearDatePickerButton
    })
})