This image released by Peacock shows a scene from "Jaws." (Peacock/Universal Pictures via AP) Credit: AP

Good morning, Newport! 👋 Today is Tuesday, Aug. 19, the 231st day of 2025. There are 134 days left in the year.

🚨 You need to know

As summer winds down, The JPT Film & Event Center is ramping up with a diverse lineup that spans decades of cinema and showcases live entertainment through early September.

The historic Washington Square theater is presenting anniversary screenings of beloved films alongside concerts and comedy shows, creating what General Manager Alex Whitney calls a “jam-packed showcase leading into fall.” The programming bridges past and present, featuring everything from last year’s “Barbie” phenomenon to a 25-year anniversary screening of the acclaimed foreign film “In the Mood for Love.”

Tonight’s “Barbie Summer Party” at 7:30 p.m. kicks off the lineup, encouraging moviegoers to don pink attire while sipping themed drinks. The celebration continues Tuesday with “In the Mood for Love,” Wong Kar-wai’s Shanghainese masterpiece about two people whose lives intertwine over the years.

Live entertainment takes center stage Wednesday through next Tuesday with three distinct performances: The Hot Sardines on Aug. 21, the Wise Guys of Comedy featuring Ace Aceto, Frank Santorelli and Brad Mastrangelo on Aug. 22, and ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro on Aug. 27.

The summer programming culminates with a week-long run of “Jaws” from Aug. 29 through Sept. 4, marking the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s thriller. After three sold-out screenings in May, the theater is presenting nine showings of a new 4K restoration, partnering with What’sUpNewp for the extended run. The opening night Aug. 29 features live music from Los Duderinos at 6:30 p.m., plus beer tastings from Narragansett Beer and wine from Juggernaut Wines during weekend evening screenings. Charter Books will offer themed literature and merchandise throughout the run.

“Summer’s not over yet, and neither is the fun at The JPT,” Whitney said. “Escape the heat and enjoy the last dog days of summer in Newport with films for everyone.”

The Jane Pickens Theater, housed in a building that dates to 1834 and has shown films since the 1920s, has undergone significant improvements over the past 15 years while preserving its historic character. Tickets for all events are available at janepickens.com/shows.

What else you should know

🎾 This year’s International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) Induction Celebration will have a distinctive look and feel from past ceremonies. What’sUpNewp’s Veronica Bruno has a look at the revamped Induction Weekend, which will feature fan celebrations, celebrities, and a concert.

🎉 Newport Public Schools will celebrate the opening of its new 167,000-square-foot Rogers High School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, August 22nd, at 10:00 AM, followed by public tours until 12:30 PM. The event at 15 Wickham Road will feature U.S. Senator Jack Reed, Superintendent Colleen Jermain, Mayor Charles Holder, and other local officials, with the entire Newport community invited to attend. The state-of-the-art facility boasts fully integrated Career & Technical Education programs, advanced science labs, a commercial kitchen for culinary students, and will house the Seaside Cafe restaurant opening to the public in October, along with donated artwork from local Newport artists and a modern security system.

🎒 Speaking of schools, Newport Public Schools will welcome students and families back for the 2025-26 school year with a free community celebration next month. The annual Back to School Bash will take place Tuesday, Sept. 2, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Elks Lodge #104, located at 141 Pelham St. The event is open to all K-12 students, families and community members in the Newport Public Schools district.

📰 The Latest from What’sUpNewp

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📈 Yesterday’s most-read

The following were yesterday’s most-read What’sUpNewp articles.

  1. Two arrested for trespassing at The Clarke Cooke House
  2. So ‘Gilded Age’: Iconic images from Newport’s Weekend of Coaching
  3. Morning Notes: Easton’s Beach remains closed for third day due to bacteria
  4. Mount Hope Bridge reopens ahead of schedule after resurfacing
  5. Two Newport beaches reopen as Easton’s Beach remains closed
  6. Obituary: Carole Anderson
  7. Today In Newport History: August 17, 1790 – George Washington Arrives In Newport
  8. Obituary: Samuel Fay
  9. 35 boats compete in 20th Ida Lewis Distance Race offshore challenge
  10. Newport Irish-American women’s group to celebrate 125th anniversary

📅 What’s Up Today

Weather Forecast

  • High Surf Advisory in effect from August 19, 8 AM until August 21, 8 PM
  • Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Northeast wind 7 to 9 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
  • Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. East wind around 8 mph.
  • Tomorrow: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. East wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Marine Forecast

  • Today: NNE wind 6 to 8 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Partly sunny. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight: ESE wind around 7 kt. Partly cloudy. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tomorrow: E wind 6 to 9 kt. A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5pm. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • The coastal water temperature is 71 degrees.

Sun, Moon & Tide

  • Sunrise at 5:58 am. Sunset at 7:38 pm. 13 hours & 40 minutes of sun.
  • High tide at 4:58 am & 5:38 pm. Low tide at 10:33 am.
  • The lunar phase is a Waning Crescent.

Things To Do

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Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...