The JPT Film & Event Center, with sponsorship from What’sUpNewp, is bringing some cult classics back to the big screen in July, August, and September. Each classic film will be paired with a live musical performance, and some include tastings and giveaways! More information about each event can be found below; July 18 – Clueless […]
Ryan Belmore
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 is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Online News Association, and Local Independent Online News Publishers. He is committed to the codes of ethics of these organizations: accuracy, independence, accountability, and transparency.
In Newport, Ryan served on the boards of the Fort Adams Trust and Potter League for Animals, and hosted a daily radio talk show for four years.
In 2021, Ryan moved to Alexandria, Virginia, to support his wife Jen's career. He launched The Alexandria Brief in 2025, applying what he learned in Newport to a new community. With the help of some talented on-the-ground contributors, he still runs What's Up Newp — and always will.
Contact: ryan@whatsupnewp.com.
Posted inNews
What’s Up Today: Saturday, July 8
This is a What’sUpNewp newsletter. Have this story delivered to your inbox every morning by signing up for our complimentary daily newsletter! 7.8.2023 | By Ryan Belmore | Words: 1,237 | Reading Time: About 6-minutes 👑 On this day in 1663, 27 years after Roger Williams arrived in the colony, King Charles II gave Rhode Island […]
Posted inNews
DEM confirms man’s death at Misquamicut State Beach
The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is confirming that at around 12:30 PM today, lifeguards at Misquamicut State Beach pulled an unresponsive adult male from the water. According to DEM, lifeguards tried to resuscitate the man by administering CPR and using an automated external defibrillator until Westerly EMS and DEM’s Division of Law Enforcement responded […]
Posted inNews
Road Report: Schedule of lane closures and road construction projects (July 8 – 15)
The following road and lane closure notices have been scheduled by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA). Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority July 9 – 15, 2023 Newport Claiborne Pell BridgeWestbound Right Lane Closure- 7/10 and 7/14- 6 am to 2 pm Jamestown Verrazzano BridgeThere […]
Posted inBusiness
Christmas Tree Shops stores closing in Middletown and Warwick, hosting Going Out of Business sales
Going Out of Business sales have commenced across all remaining Christmas Tree Shops store locations nationwide, including their two locations in Rhode Island – Middletown and Warwick. The liquidation event is being managed by Hilco Merchant Resources. At the Going Out of Business sales, shoppers can take advantage of discounts up to 50 percent off […]
Posted inBusiness
New ‘Private Adirondack Experience’ launches on The Lawn at Castle Hill Inn
Update: On July 10, a spokesperson provided the following update regarding their reservation policy; “The team made some slight adjustments to the offering over the weekend. Effective immediately the cover charge is now $25 per person, 7 days a week, plus sales tax and 20% gratuity. There is also a minimum booking requirement of 6 guests. […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Today: Friday, July 7
7.7.2023 | By Ryan Belmore | Words: 1,462 | Reading Time: About 7-minutes 🐎 The Irish Polo Team, who will take on Team USA during the Newport International Polo Series on Saturday, will be welcomed to Aquidneck Island via a Pony Parade on America’s Cup Boulevard this evening. 👏 The Rhody Regatta, an 18-mile race around Conanicut […]
Posted inThings To Do
Irish Polo Team to participate in ‘Pony Parade’ in downtown Newport on July 7
Newport Polo today announced that the Irish Polo Team, who will take on Team USA during the Newport International Polo Series on Saturday, will be welcomed to Aquidneck Island via a Pony Parade on America’s Cup Boulevard from 6-6:30 pm on Friday, July 7. According to Newport Polo, the group of eight polo ponies will […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Gallery Night at Jamestown Arts Center to celebrate ‘Book as Muse’ with musician Fausto Palma
Celebrating the opening of the Book as Muse: Language & Image exhibit, musician Fausto Palma returns to the Jamestown Arts Center galleries for a free live musical performance during Gallery Night, Thursday, July 13 from 6–8pm. At the event, Fausto Palma will play the ud, an 11-string Turkish guitar, and Indian raga on the acoustic guitar, including new material written after the birth of his daughter. […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Today: Thursday, July 6
Sign up for our free What’sUpNewp newsletter and we’ll deliver this story straight to your inbox every morning! 7.6.2023 | By Ryan Belmore | Words: 1,462 | Reading Time: About 7-minutes 🗳️ The nearly three dozen declared candidates for the now vacant first U.S. House of Representative seat in Rhode Island face a series of deadlines that […]
Posted inNews
Legislation to spur housing development across Rhode Island signed into law
Five bills from Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s housing package were ceremonially signed into law today at the site of a former public school in Warwick that is being converted into housing. The bills – coupled with the historic investments made r in the FY23 and FY24 budgets – will help address the long-lagging housing production rates in Rhode Island, […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up in Newport: July 6 – 9
Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in and around Newport this weekend, Thursday, July 6 – Sunday, July 9, 2023. Thursday, July 6 Thursday will be busy on the cruise ship schedule, as the Queen Mary II and American Star are scheduled to stop in Newport. Things To Do 8:30 am to 10 am: […]
Posted inCity & Government
What’s On The Agenda: Newport City Council Meeting on July 12
Newport City Council will host their next Regular City Council Meeting on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The meeting is open to the public; here’s a look at what’s on the agenda. This agenda was updated on July 7 with the removal of Docket Action Item #6183/23. CITY OF NEWPORT DOCKET FOR […]
Posted inNews
Adoptable Dog of the Week: Falcor
Meet this week’s adoptable dog of the week – Falcor! Available for adoption at the Potter League for Animals, Falcor is a 2-year-old male Husky. “Falcor is a handsome young Husky awaiting his forever home! He is a high-energy, playful dog, and would do well with an active family,” the Potter League for Animals shares […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Today: Wednesday, July 5
Receive this story in your inbox every morning by signing up for our free daily newsletter! 🎆 After being postponed a day due to rain, The City of Newport will host its annual fireworks display over Newport Harbor this evening at 9:15 pm. 🎇 Jamestown will now host their fireworks at 9:05 pm on Thursday […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Today: Tuesday, July 4
This is a What’sUpNewp newsletter, sign up for it, and we’ll deliver it straight to your inbox every day! It’s free! Happy 4th of July/Independence Day! 🎆 With rain and thunderstorms possible, City of Newport officials postponed its fireworks display to its scheduled rain date of July 5th at 9:15 p.m. 🇺🇸 The Rhode Island Society […]
Posted inCity & Government
City of Newport’s fireworks postponed to July 5
The City of Newport’s annual Fireworks Display Over Newport Harbor is being postponed to Wednesday, July 5th. With rain and thunderstorms possible, City officials made the decision to postpone the beloved tradition to its scheduled rain date of July 5th at 9:15 p.m. The decision to postpone was made out of an abundance of caution and residents […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment, News
Ed Sheeran sets new Gillette Stadium single-show attendance record
Ed Sheeran has set the new Gillette Stadium single-show attendance record after his Saturday, July 1 performance at the home of the New England Patriots, and Revolution had a venue-record 71,723 in attendance. Sheeran’s Saturday show bested the previous mark that had stood since the U2 360° Tour on Sept. 20, 2009. The multiple GRAMMY Award-winning, global […]
Posted inNews, Things To Do
What’s Up Today: Monday, July 3
🎵 The Newport Jazz Festival experimented with rock music for the first time on this day in 1969. 🏖️ In what can only be described as a triumphant victory lap Saturday, July 1, advocates who have been fighting for public access to Rhode Island’s shoreline, and against private property owners trying to limit those rights, […]
Posted inHistory, News
Today In History – July 3, 1969: Newport Jazz Fest Experiments With Rock Music
The Newport Jazz Festival experimented with rock music for the first time on July 3, 1969. The festival’s 1969 program was an experiment in fusing jazz, soul and rock music and audiences. Its lineup included, besides jazz, Friday evening appearances by rock groups Jeff Beck, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Ten Years After and Jethro Tull. Saturday’s schedule mixed jazz acts […]
Posted inSports
Devers hits 20th home run and Red Sox beat Blue Jays 7-6 to spoil Canada Day celebrations
By IAN HARRISON Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Rafael Devers hit his 20th home run, Justin Turner homered and scored three times and the Boston Red Sox spoiled Canada Day celebrations in Toronto by holding on to beat the Blue Jays 7-6 Saturday. Right fielder Alex Verdugo threw out Bo Bichette at home plate for […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island Foundation awards $300,000 to improve student performance in Newport schools
The Rhode Island Foundation has awarded nearly $1.2 million in grants to improve student performance in Newport and three other school districts. The funding will support work to increase the number of teachers of color in urban school districts. “Diversifying the teacher workforce in pursuit of the educational success of students is a strategy that […]
Posted inNews
Road Report: Schedule of lane closures and road construction projects (July 1 – 8)
The following road and lane closure notices have been scheduled by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA). Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority July 2 – 8, 2023 Newport Claiborne Pell BridgeWestbound Right Lane Closure- 7/6 and 7/7- 7 am to 3 pmEastbound Right Lane Closure- […]
Posted inNews
Reed, Whitehouse, McKee, Raimondo & state leaders celebrate $108.7 million in Federal Broadband funding to connect more RIers to affordable high-speed internet
Newport, RI – Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Governor Dan McKee, Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner, Newport Mayor Xaykham Khamsavoravong and state and local officials to celebrate the latest installment of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding for Rhode Island. This $108.7 million […]
Posted inSports
Newport Polo to host A1 Roofing Independence Cup on July 1
Newport International Polo Series will showcase the elite talent of the United States Polo Association in the Northeast region by hosting the A-1 Roofing Independence Cup on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 5 pm. The championship finals of the Northeast Congressional Cup tournament will play out in the holiday weekend polo event, to decide this […]