Newport Folk Festival today announced that Abraham Alexander has joined its 2023 festival lineup. Abraham is scheduled to perform at Fort Adams State Park on Sunday, July 30, 2023. Born in Greece to parents of Nigerian descent, Abraham Alexander moved to Texas with his family at age 11, determined to escape the racial tensions they […]
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 inMusic & Entertainment, News, Things To Do
The Lone Bellow, Stephen Wilson, Jr. will perform at The JPT on May 13
Spectacle Live today announced that they will present The Lone Bellow featuring Stephen Wilson Jr. on Saturday, May 13 at 8pm at the JPT Film & Event Center. Tickets are on sale Friday at 10 am at JanePickens.com or by calling 1-800-657-8774. Throughout their lifespan as a band, The Lone Bellow have cast an indelible spell with their […]
Posted inArts & Culture
PPAC announces shows for the 2023/2024 Season
Today, J.L. “Lynn” Singleton, President and CEO of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), announced the shows that comprise PPAC’s 2023/2024 season at a season announcement event held in the Theatre’s Grand Lobby. The event was live streamed, courtesy of PPAC’s Broadway Season media sponsor WPRI 12. PPAC provided all of the details regarding their upcoming […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Poetry Takes Center Stage: 12 Rhode Island high school students to compete in statewide contest
The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) announced today that 12 high school students from Rhode Island will compete in the 18th Poetry Out Loud state finals on Sunday, March 12, at The Greenwich Odeum in East Greenwich. The Poetry Out Loud Rhode Island Finals is a family-friendly event that is free and […]
Posted inNews
Rep. Carson, Sen. Gu introduce bills
Rep. Carson, Sen. Gu introduce bills
to let cities/towns regulate short term rentals
Rep. Lauren H. Carson and Sen. Victoria Gu have introduced legislation that would allow municipalities to regulate short-term rentals within their borders. “Short-term rentals impact different communities around the state in very different ways,” said Representative Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport). “Right now, cities and towns have no ability to regulate this market despite the disproportionate […]
Posted inNews
Adoptable Dog of the Week: Loverboy
Meet your new best friend, Loverboy – this week’s adoptable pet of the week! Available for adoption through the Potter League for Animals, Loverboy is a 3-year-old male mixed breed. “Loverboy is beyond handsome, young, fun, cuddly, sweet, and lovable,” Potter League for Animals shares about Loverboy on their website. “And he LOVES to hug. […]
Posted inNews
Newport Police share traffic flow, parking restrictions ahead of the 2023 Newport Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
The 2023 Newport St. Patrick’s Day Parade will affect traffic flow and parking in Newport on Saturday, March 11, 2023. The parade kicks off at 11 am. Newport Police Department today shared the following traffic flow and restrictions; Traffic will be congested in the downtown area from about 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Parking will […]
Posted inNews
Reminder: ‘Spring Forward’ this weekend; check smoke detectors, too
Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 am on Sunday, March 12, 2023. Unfortunately, it means that you’ll lose an hour of sleep this weekend. But the good news is that the sunset will be much later in the evening. In Newport, the sun will rise at 6:03 am on Saturday and will set at 5:44 […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rep. Kislak: Support Washington D.C.’s statehood quest
The United States is the only democratic nation that denies the right of self–government, including participation in its national legislature, to the residents of its capital. As a similarly small but mighty jurisdiction, Rhode Island should stand up the rights of its fellow Americans, says Rep. Rebecca Kislak. Representative Kislak (D-Dist. 4, Providence) has introduced […]
Posted inNews
DEM announces slate of springtime educational programs
With the longer days and busy sounds of springtime upon us, the Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) has a whole new lineup of fun, educational programs for Rhode Islanders. Connect with the outdoors, learn new hunting and fishing skills, or put your peepers on some spring peepers in a nighttime […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rep. McGaw submits bill to enable composting as an alternative to burial, cremation
STATE HOUSE – After hearing from numerous constituents interested in reducing their impact on the planet in perpetuity, Rep. Michelle McGaw has introduced legislation to allow natural organic reduction — sometimes referred to as “human composting” — as an alternative to cremation or burial. “Not everyone is comfortable with the impact of burial, which occupies […]
Posted inNews
This Week’s Most Read What’sUpNewp Stories
The following are the most-read What’sUpNewp stories of the week, February 26 – March 4, 2023.
Posted inReal Estate
Sandy Point Stables in Portsmouth lists for $5.83 million
Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty today announced the listing of 30 Sandy Point Farm Road in Portsmouth for $5,830,000. The listing agents for the property are Judy Chace and Kylie McCollough of Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty. 30 Sandy Point Farm Road Portsmouth. Photo Credit: Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty One of the last vestiges of the original […]
Posted inCity & Government
Road Report: Schedule of lane closures and road construction projects (March 4 – 11)
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). All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority March 5 – 11, 2023 Newport Claiborne Pell BridgeThere are currently no lane closures planned […]
Posted inCity & Government
Who will be appointed to Newport’s Planning Board? City Council to conduct interviews on March 8
Newport City Council is set to conduct interviews for applicants seeking appointments to the Planning Board, with the interviews scheduled to take place on March 8, 2023. The interviews will be held in the 2nd Floor Conference Room at Newport City Hall. The Council will be interviewing three candidates for the Planning Board – Margaret […]
Posted inCity & Government
From housing to firearm safety: Highlights from this week at Rhode Island’s General Assembly
Rhode Island’s General Assembly has been busy this week, with legislators introducing several bills on issues ranging from housing to firearm safety. Here are some of the highlights: House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi announced a 14-bill package of legislation to address Rhode Island’s housing crisis. The bills aim to increase housing production and build upon […]
Posted inNews, Weather
Wet and windy weekend ahead for Newport
The National Weather Service’s detailed forecast for this weekend suggests that the Newport area will experience a range of weather conditions, including rain, snow, and wind. This afternoon, the region will experience increasing clouds, with a high temperature of around 42 degrees Fahrenheit. The wind will be relatively calm, starting from the north and eventually […]
Posted inThings To Do
Museum of Newport Irish History offering historic cemetery tours in March
As part of Newport Irish Heritage Month happenings, the Museum of Newport Irish History is offering tours of Newport’s historic Irish cemeteries. On Sunday, March 5, and Sunday, March 19, at 12:30 pm, you may tour the Saint Joseph Cemetery, known locally as the Barney Street Cemetery, the final resting place of many of Newport’s early Irish […]
Posted inReal Estate
Cities with the most expensive homes in Rhode Island: Jan. 2023
Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in Rhode Island using data from Zillow. Cities are ranked by the Zillow Home Values Index for all homes as of January 2023. The charts in this story were created automatically using Matplotlib. The most expensive city on the list has a typical home […]
Posted inNews
Possible drug overdose suspected in two Middletown deaths
Two individuals were found dead at a residence on Prospect Avenue in Middletown on Tuesday evening. Middletown Police Department and Fire Department responded to the call at approximately 5:30 pm. Upon arrival at 222 Prospect Avenue, Middletown Police Department says that officers discovered the bodies of David Perry, aged 30, from Providence, and Jackee Dulin, […]
Posted inNews
Adoptable Cat of the Week: Bumper
Meet your new best friend, Bumper – this week’s adoptable cat of the week! Available for adoption at the Potter League for Animals in Middletown, Bumper is a 5-year-old male domestic shorthair. “This is Bumper, and he’s a mighty handsome man! He has the markings of an exotic wild cat, but he’s a pure domestic […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island Blood Center declares Blood Emergency after snowstorm results in nearly 100 missed donations
Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC) is declaring a blood emergency after New England saw its first major snowstorm of the winter season. This resulted in the loss of nearly 100 appointments due to lower donor turnout and canceled blood drives. On average, RIBC needs to collect 250 donations each day to help meet demand for the patients […]
Posted inThings To Do
Preservation Society to host six-part lecture series, ‘The Gilded Age Years: Transforming America’
The America we know today was born in the Gilded Age. A time of exciting and unsettling change, the late 19th and early 20th centuries saw Americans go from horse-drawn to motor-driven, oil lamplight to electric light, farmwork to factory labor, handmade to assembly line-produced, all in a few tumultuous decades. Mass communications, easy long-distance […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newly elected Rep. Jennifer Boylan
Newly elected Rep. Jennifer Boylan
introduces four firearm safety bills
STATE HOUSE – Rep. Jennifer Boylan has introduced four bills to improve firearm safety in Rhode Island. “All of us are concerned about the security of our loved ones and our community,” said Representative Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence). “These bills are reasonable improvements to current laws that will help keep everyone safer.” One […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island Energy customers To see a drop in electricity supply prices starting April 1
Rhode Island Energy announced today that electricity supply prices will drop significantly this spring based on a new rate proposal recently filed with the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (RIPUC). If approved, a typical residential customer using 500 kWh per month could see a price drop of more than 25 percent on the supply side […]