Newport Vineyards Executive Chef Andy Teixeira is growing more than just grapes at the 120-acre farm in Middletown, Rhode Island. Teixeira, a James Beard Award semifinalist, is cultivating a sustainable culinary program that includes housing for culinary students, four kitchens, and plans to grow bananas and figs. “We’re trying to be sustainable. We’re trying to […]
People & Profiles
Posted inFood & Drink
Yagi Noodles’ Chef Basil Yu: From pop-up to James Beard finalist
Chef Basil Yu of Yagi Noodles in Newport is still processing his recent James Beard Award semifinalist nomination. “It’s still kind of a shock,” Yu told What’sUpNewp at a New York City event on Thursday night featuring four of Rhode Island’s James Beard Award semifinalists. “The list was something that I have looked up to […]
Posted inCity & Government
Watch: A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
Newport Public Schools Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain faces challenges as the district grapples with funding issues and staffing changes ahead of the upcoming school year. A resolution before the Newport City Council proposes awarding the school building committee approximately $4 million for the Rogers High School construction project, with contingencies. The school district had initially […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Local artist Patrick Murphy unveils ‘House of Waves’ on Broadway
Patrick Murphy, a celebrated artist and photographer from Newport, is set to launch his latest venture, “House of Waves,” this Saturday at 154 Broadway. The new space promises to be a dynamic hub for creativity and community, embracing a spirit of innovation and flexibility. The Genesis of House of Waves The idea for House of […]
Posted inBusiness
Rachael Burns promoted to Assistant General Manager at Brenton Hotel
The Brenton Hotel announces Rachael Burns’s promotion to assistant general manager. Burns has served as the hotel’s director of sales and marketing since its opening in 2020. In her new position, Burns will oversee daily hotel operations, support the general manager with administrative tasks, handle all revenue, sales, and marketing efforts, and assist with staff training. “Rachael […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jake Shimabukuro may not be a household name, but he should be
Jake Shimabukuro, the ukulele virtuoso and composer from Hawaii, made an appearance through Spectacle Live before a sold-out crowd at Jane Pickens Theater on Saturday night. His abilities know no bounds and his stylings are unparalleled for any instrument but become even more remarkable when performed on a ukulele. He dazzled the audience with two […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: RI music legend John Cafferty, playing PPAC on July 13
In a little over a week, the Providence Performing Arts Center will come alive with the sounds of “Cool Summer Nights,” a series of concerts at the downtown theater featuring ticket prices as low as $10. Kicking off the series on June 22 is the world’s #1 Bruce Springsteen tribute band, Bruce in the USA. […]
Posted inBusiness
New small business, Newport Sailing Lessons, opens this summer
Aquidneck Islanders and Newport summer visitors alike will be delighted to discover new sailing opportunities out of Newport Harbor. Kate Richardson, a native Rhode Islander and U.S. Navy veteran, is now the proud small business owner of Newport Sailing Lessons. She runs the lessons out of her 1978 Pearson 30 sailboat, Hope, in Newport Harbor. […]
Posted inNews
Fort Adams Trust taps Regan Miner as its next Executive Director
Today, the Fort Adams Trust announced the recent hiring of Regan Miner as the organization’s new executive director. Miner is a public historian and historic preservation advocate. With over ten years of experience in historic preservation and nonprofit leadership, Miner will oversee programming and initiatives to support and promote the Fort’s mission while building partnerships […]
Posted inColumns
Gerry Goldstein: A steady hand, in war and the composing room
Tommy Plymesser, a gentle and soundly anchored soul, greeted the world just over 100 years ago during his home-birthed arrival on – ironically – Farewell Street in Newport. Later, during a long career in South County, he honed a particular skill: He could close his fingers around an idea, or a well-turned metaphor, and actually […]
Posted inArts & Culture, People & Profiles
Conversation with the world’s leading ‘garbage artist;’ his trolls coming to Rhode Island
“Trash is treasure,” says Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist who has turned garbage into bigger-than-life sculptures, a giant swan in Denmark to trolls in Rhode Island. In a few days, on May 3, the first two of possibly six or seven trolls will take residence in Charlestown’s Ninigret Park. Dambo’s trolls, all built from recycled […]
Posted inNews
Charter Books to welcome Author Laird Hunt February 6 at 6PM
Story by Ruthie Wood Newport’s indie bookstore, Charter Books, is celebrating the release of Float Up, Sing Down, the new collection of short stories from Laird Hunt, in an evening with the author on February 6 at 6PM. Set in the same rural Indiana town as his 2021 novel Zorrie (a National Book Award Finalist), […]
Posted inNews
Moral complexity, empathy, and difficult conversations in the wake of the Israel-Hamas Conflict
Well before the attack on October 7, 2023, there were many, including many liberal Jews, who felt the Palestinian people suffered disproportionately at the hands of the Israeli government. In 2022, it led educator/playwright/actor Sandra Laub to craft her one-woman show, Picking Up Stones: An American Jew Wakes to a Nightmare. In the wake of […]
Posted inNews
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Deanna Lopes, Director of Paradigm Escape Rooms
Paradigm Escape Rooms on William Street is bringing interactive entertainment to Aquidneck Island with two newly designed, second-generation escape room experiences, fit for everyone, rain or shine. Deanna Lopes, Director of Paradigm Escape Rooms, joined What’sUpNewp at 2 pm on Monday, September 18 for a live virtual video conversation to tell us more about Paradigm […]
Posted inCity & Government
Watch: A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Wednesday, September 6 at 1:30 pm. During the conversation, we discuss the new school year, and the latest on the Rogers High School construction project, and more.
Posted inArts & Culture
CUSP Gallery Brings Art Crowd to Broadway
Newport’s art scene could be on the cusp of transformation, thanks to a new gallery at 35 Broadway and the vision of its owner, Curtis Speer, an artist who relocated to Newport in November. Along with his partner, Tyler Martin, Speer moved his CUSP Gallery & Lifestyle from the well-established artist colony of Provincetown, MA […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Interview: We speak with Rising Stars at the Newport Jazz Festival
What’s Up Newp sat down with a trio of young artists at the Newport Jazz Festival last weekend. We met Matthew Whitaker, Julius Rodriguez and members of Butcher Brown at the festival. Here’s what they had to say. Butcher Brown Butcher Brown, a band of five artists from Richmond, Virginia, played the Quad Stage at […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Louis Cato, TV late night bandleader, offers ‘Reflections,’ a new album of ‘laid bare, honest’ songs
By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Musician and producer Jack DeBoe recalls the time many years ago when he fully grasped the sheer musical ability of his new friend, Louis Cato. DeBoe and Cato were playing a gig in Boston when DeBoe got up from his drum kit for a break. […]
Posted inCity & Government
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Stephen Casey, Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 1
Stephen Casey, a Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island’s Congressional District 1, joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation at 2 pm on Thursday, August 3, 2023. During the interview, we learn more about Stephen, find out why he’s running in this special election, and discuss what he believes sets him apart from his opponents. […]
Posted inCity & Government
WUN-ON-ONE: Newport School Superintendent joins What’sUpNewp for a review of the past year, look at challenges ahead
Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joined WUN’s Ryan Belmore and Frank Prosnitz on the first day of summer school vacation to recap the year that was, talk about the challenges ahead, and more. Watch or listen to our conversation below.
Posted inArts & Culture
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with NewportOUT’s Sean O’Connor about Newport Pride Weekend
Newport Pride Weekend returns Friday, June 23, through Sunday, June 25. NewportOUT’s Sean O’Connor joined What’sUpNewp to provide details about Pride Weekend, give us some background and information on the new Pride Center in Newport, and more. For more information on Newport Pride Weekend or the Newport Pride Center, visit www.newportprideri.org. Watch or listen to […]
Posted inArts & Culture
WUN-ON-ONE: Salve grad discusses his latest novel, ‘Glass Bottle Season’
“Fletcher Michael’s GLASS BOTTLE SEASON is a closely observed coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of the insular culture of Newport royalty. This boozy, immersive novel will resonate with anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or has experienced that painful passage between the last gasps of childhood and the beginnings of adulthood. It’s […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Cathleen Carr, Executive Director of newportFILM
Cathleen Carr, Executive Director of newportFILM, joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation today. During the conversation, Ryan Belmore and Cathleen discuss the upcoming newportFILM 2023 Outdoors lineup, which includes an exciting lineup of eleven world-class and award-winning documentaries. Patrick And The Whale kicks off the summer schedule on Thursday night at The Great Friends […]
Posted inCity & Government, People & Profiles
Mayor Xay joins What’sUpNewp for a WUN-ON-ONE conversation
Newport Mayor Xaykham (Xay) Khamsyvoravong joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation at 2 pm on Thursday, June 15. Among the topics, we recap the June 14 Regular Meeting of the Newport City Council and talk to the Mayor about the Cliff Walk, short-term rental application fees, the Rogers High School and Pell Bridge […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Facing education’s challenges: a conversation with Newport School Superintendent Jermain
For Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain, the 2022-23 school year has been one with considerable challenges, as the school system looks to the next school year to improve upon what was not a very promising “report card” by the Rhode Island Department of Education, a school building project that faces financial challenges, and an […]