Freebie of the week: For those who don’t live near the Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County, it may require a time and travel commitment to attend a unique and fun outdoor event: the 44th annual Point Reyes Seashore Sand Sculpture Contest. It takes place at Drakes Beach near the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Most of the sculpting activity happens early, with judging beginning at noon and awards (for child, adult and family categories, plus a People’s Choice prize) handed out at 3 p.m. Those itching to enter may register at 9 a.m. Note: Participants cannot anything that they don’t find on the beach in their sculptures. In other words, no perking up work with a Bart Simpson “ay caramba” T-shirt, please! Otherwise, just plan on a pleasant day on the seashore in the company of some very creative sand sculptors and appreciators of fine sand art. Admission is free. Visit the National Park Service website, www.nps.gov, for more information.
Another freebie: Last century, a clarion call on film warned about the dangers of high tech. In “Jurassic Park,” released in 1993, an eccentric billionaire played by Richard Attenborough invites a team of scientists to check out an enclosure where he is holding some cloned dinosaurs extracted from DNA. It’s an understatement to say that things go wildly out of control. The Steven Spielberg movie, which swept the three technical awards at the Oscars, capped off a triumphant night in which the director also brought home seven awards for “Schindler’s List.” “Jurassic Park,” also starring Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum and Laura Dern, screens for free Thursday night at the Crossing at East Cut Outdoor Cinema series at 250 Main St. in San Francisco, starting at 6:30 p.m. Bring picnic blankets or lawn chairs; food and drink will be available for purchase from vendors onsite. RSVP is requested, but not required, at thethirdplace.is.
What Waters wrought: When John Waters’ film “Hairspray” came out in 1988, the director’s projects were considered too naughty and strange to cater to mainstream American tastes. But the film, with its appealingly oddball cast—featuring everyone from Sonny Bono and Ricki Lake to Waters’ go-to drag performer Divine —and themes of acceptance and sticking to your dreams, changed that. While no one will confuse the original “Hairspray” with a Hallmark Channel movie, it has remained an inherently lovable cult classic about a plump teen who dances on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation and is especially popular on the home-rental market. In 2002, a Motown-infused version opened on Broadway, proving that a strange and lovable movie can make a hit Broadway musical. (It won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.) Now, a staple in the American stage scene that’s tamer than the original film, it remains a lovably strange ode to being lovable and strange. San Francisco Playhouse is staging the musical, helmed by company artistic director Bill English (with Phaedra Tillery-Boughton credited as associate director) and starring Ella Ruth Francis as the indefatigable dreamer Tracy Turnblad. It run through Sept. 12 at San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post St., San Francisco. Tickets are $52-$145 at sfplayhouse.org.
Mehldau plays Smith: The bond between Brad Mehldau, a pianist of extraordinary talent and sensitivity, and the late great indie-folk singer-songwriter Elliott Smith is one of those “whole is greater than the sum of its parts” things. As Mehldau has explained, he did not meet Smith until a short time before the revered Los Angeles singer-songwriter died at his home from a stab wound to the chest. Smith had dealt with depression and substance abuse issue for years, although many of those closest to him refuse to accept that he intended to take his own life (an official coroner’s report listed neither suicide nor homicide as the cause of death.) Mehldau, who’s experienced his own mental health issues, has said he has long felt a connection to Smith’s work. A year ago, he released “Ride into the Sun,” an album that includes Mehldau’s covers of several Smith songs as well as four Mehldau compositions inspired by Smith. On Saturday, Mehldau comes to the Paramount Theatre in Oakland to perform the album live, backed by many of the same musicians— mandolinist/vocalist Chris Tile, drummer Matt Chamberlain and bassist John Davis —who were part of the recording project. Joining the band will be Singer Blake Mills. The show starts at 8 p.m.; tickets are $75-160 at www.sfjazz.org.
Lovett in Livermore: Opening Night at the Bankhead is a glittery affair designed to raise big money for Livermore Valley Arts by bringing celebrated Americana and country-alt pioneer Lyle Lovett to the stage in an event that opens its doors at 5 p.m. Saturday. The big party includes a jazz band before the concert, live and silent auctions and a raffle, a welcoming cocktail or a glass of bubbly, access to a photo booth and a free souvenir photo, a plate of paella from On the Vine Catering and admission to an after party out on the Bankhead Theater Plaza featuring a nacho bar and dessert and more music from “Mountain Soul” band Matt Axton and Bad Moon. Whew! Sounds like a rockin’ good time. All the fun takes place at 2400 First St., Livermore. Tickets are $295 to $750 (early admission and premium concert seats go to higher-price ticketholders) at livermorearts.org.