Public Benefit: Pop-Ups in the POPOS

Upcoming Activations + Events:

Thursday, July 2, 2026

The Compliment Dept.: Office Hours 

with artist, Lisa Van Dusen 

5:00 - 6:00 pm 

Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto

Details and RSVP (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Rest-A-Thon

with guest artist Agnieszka Wszolkowska 

12:00 - 1:00 pm (drop in, stay as long as you like)

The (Mostly) Secret Garden, 245 Lytton Avenue, Palo Alto  

Details and RSVP (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)

Thursday, July 9, 2026

The Compliment Dept.: Office Hours 

5:00 - 6:00 pm 

Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto 

Details and RSVP (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Family Slide Show

With guest artists, PressYess - Anna Newman and Meg Pohlod 

8:30 - 10:00 pm 

Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto 

Details and RSVP (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Tour of Downtown Palo Alto’s Hidden Public Open Spaces

with artist, Lisa Van Dusen 

5:00 - 6:30 pm 

Meet at Avenidas - 450 Bryant Street, Palo Alto

Details and RSVP (drop-ins welcome)

Saturday, August 8, 2026

The Compliment Dept.: Office Hours

with artist Lisa Van Dusen 

9:00 - 10:00 am 

Edgewood Plaza - 2080 Channing Avenue, Palo Alto  

Details and RSVP (drop-ins welcome and anticipated)

Saturday, August 8, 2026

Dance + Laughter Party 

with special guests Carla H. Brown, 2023 World Laughter Champion + DJ Jordyn

5:30 - 7:30 pm | Laughter Yoga 5:30 - 6:00 pm + Dance Party 6:00 - 7:30 pm 

Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto 

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Tour of Downtown Palo Alto’s Hidden Public Open Spaces

with artist, Lisa Van Dusen 

11:00 am - 12:30 pm 

Meet at Avenidas - 450 Bryant Street, Palo Alto

Past Events:

Saturday, June 27, 2026

Tour of Downtown Palo Alto’s Hidden Public Open Spaces

with artist, Lisa Van Dusen 

11:00 - 12:30 pm 

Meet at Avenidas - 450 Bryant Street, Palo Alto

Details and RSVP (drop-ins also welcome)  Thursday, April 16, 2026

Saturday, May 16, 2026

held in Common 

with guest artist Angela Sanders

11:00 am - 3:00 pm 

Plaza Ramona - 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Across the Table: Intergenerational Exchange

with Youth Community Service (YCS), Avenidas, and artist Lisa Van Dusen 

9:30 am - 1:30 pm students | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm older adults

800 High Street at Homer Avenue, Palo Alto

October 13–31, 2025 · 450 Bryant St, Palo Alto

Public Benefit art exhibition

Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 am–5:00 pm · Sat Oct 25, 9:00 am–5:00 pm (last entry 4:30 pm)

About the exhibition:
Public Benefit is an art exhibition by Lisa Van Dusen revealing Palo Alto’s Privately Owned Public Open Spaces (POPOS)—public spaces hiding in plain sight. Through research, installation, and on-the-ground activations, the project invites the public to notice, explore and use these 12 sites created as a Public Benefit for you, the Public. This installation is situated among the seven POPOS in downtown Palo Alto.

October 13–31, 2025 · 450 Bryant St, Palo Alto

Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 am–5:00 pm · Sat Oct 25, 9:00 am–5:00 pm (last entry 4:30 pm)

About the exhibition:
Public Benefit is an art exhibition by Lisa Van Dusen revealing Palo Alto’s Privately Owned Public Open Spaces (POPOS)—public spaces hiding in plain sight. Through research, installation, and on-the-ground activations, the project invites the public to notice, explore and use these 12 sites created as a Public Benefit for you, the Public. This installation is situated amidst the seven POPOS that are located in downtown Palo Alto.