Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in and around Newport this weekend, Friday, June 3 through Sunday, June 5. Six Picks Six Picks Events: What’s Up this weekend in RI (June 3-5) Six Picks Music: The best in local music this weekend (June 3-5) Open Houses 20 Open Houses to check out this […]
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
Dr. James McDonald stepping down as the Interim Director at the Rhode Island Department of Health
Governor Dan McKee today shared the news that Dr. James McDonald, MD, MPH, will be stepping down as the Interim Director at the Department of Health so that “he can focus on emerging healthcare needs of his family”. Dr. McDonald’s last day of State service will be July 29, 2022. He will continue as Interim Director while the […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Today: Thursday, June 2
NEWPORT, RI – Good Morning, today is Thursday, June 2, 2022. 🌊 The Rhode Island Foundation is sending a Newport teen off to college with a scholarship honoring Roger Williams, the state’s founding father. Ava Reise won the four-year, renewable scholarship through the Foundation’s Carter Roger Williams Initiative, which was launched by philanthropists Letitia and the late […]
Posted inNews
Adoptable Pet of the Week: Aspen
Meet your new best friend, Aspen – this week’s Adoptable Pet of the Week! The Potter League for Animals shares on their website that Aspen is a 3-year-old male Mixed Breed. Aspen is considered a large-sized dog, weighing in at between 60 and 99 pounds. Here’s what else Potter League for Animals has to say […]
Posted inCity & Government
Here’s what’s on the docket for Newport City Council’s June 8 Regular Council Meeting
Newport City Council’s next Regular Council Meeting will take place in the Council Chambers at Newport City Hall on Wednesday, June 8 at 6:30 pm. Here’s a look at what’s on their docket; CITY OF NEWPORT DOCKET FOR A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 8, 2022 The following items of business, filed with the City Clerk […]
Posted inCity & Government
RIDOT to offer a public tour of the ongoing reconstruction of the Newport Pell Bridge approaches
STATE HOUSE – At the request of Rep. Lauren Carson, next week the Rhode Island Department of Transportation will offer a public tour of the ongoing reconstruction of the Newport Pell Bridge approaches. The event, which is free and open to all, is scheduled for Friday, June 10, at 11 am. Parking will be available at the former Newport […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s Up Today: Wednesday, June 1
Good Morning, today is Wednesday, June 1. 🌊 Newport will be able to establish a residential tax structure that encourages owner-occupied housing under legislation sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer and approved by the Senate on Tuesday. Read More 🌊 How safe are Newport’s schools? In the aftermath of the tragic massacre at Robb Elementary School […]
Posted inThings To Do
BankNewport 10 Miler returns on Sunday, here’s how traffic in Newport will be impacted
This Sunday’s BankNewport 10 Miler will have a minor traffic impact around certain parts of Newport. The annual road race is a favorite across the northeast, drawing runners from dozens of states and a handful of foreign countries to enjoy the beauty of the city-by-the-sea. The Boys and Girls Club of Newport County and the Fort […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s Up This Week: May 31 – June 5
Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in and around Newport this week and weekend, Tuesday, May 31 through Sunday, June 5. This story will be updated regularly as we learn about more events/get updates. Please check back often. If you have something you’d like to be included here, let us know by emailing […]
Posted inThings To Do
Wakefield RiverFire event series returns June 23 – August 18
The Wakefield Village Association this week announced the 2022 Wakefield RiverFire summer event series. The first fire lighting is on Thursday, June 23rd from 6 to 10 pm on the Saugatucket River in historic, downtown Wakefield and continues every Thursday evening until August 18th. Enjoy the serene views of the Saugatucket River, as the sun peacefully sets, and the wood in […]
Posted inReal Estate
Waterfront home on Indian Avenue in Middletown sells for $5.7 million
Lila Delman Compass today announced the sale of 611 Indian Avenue in Middletown for $5,700,000. According to data maintained by the Rhode Island Statewide MLS, this marks the highest sale in Middletown year-to-date.* Lila Delman Compass Associate Broker Eric Kirton represented the seller and facilitated for the buyer in this transaction. Eric Kirton commented, […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s Up Today: Tuesday, May 31
Good Morning, today is Tuesday, May 31. 🌊 Newport City Council and Newport School Committee will host a joint session this evening at 5:30 pm for the purpose of discussing school regionalization. 🌊 ICYMI: A few What’sUpNewp photo galleries from the weekend; Boots On The Ground at Fort AdamsBoston Calling: Day 1, Day 2, Day […]
Posted inNews
Music on the Hill bringing chamber music concerts to East Greenwich, North Providence, and Cranston
Music on the Hill invites audiences to share six chamber music concerts as summer begins. Masterworks by Brahms and Beethoven are performed with less familiar, undiscovered music, including commissions and local premieres. The ensemble of 21 artists includes many musicians born and raised in Rhode Island, and three featured composers were born in the Ocean […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Today: Monday, May 30
Good Morning, today is Monday, May 30 – Memorial Day! 🌊 It’s the final day of the Boots On The Ground Memorial at Fort Adams State Park. Free and open to the public. Open 8 am to 6 pm. More details WUN’s Rick Farrell visited Boots On The Ground over the weekend, check out his […]
Posted inSports
Heat go cold in Game 7 against Boston, and pay the price
By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler followed up one amazing performance with another. It just wasn’t enough for the Miami Heat. The last shot of Butler’s season was a 3-pointer that missed — and in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, that’s the way most of the shots from […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Today: Sunday, May 29
Good Morning, today is Sunday, May 29. 🌊 A Patriotic Concert featuring the 88th Army Band, Rhode Island National Guard will take place at Fort Adams today from 5 pm to 6 pm as part of the Boots on The Grounds for Heroes event. Read More 🌊 It’s day #4 of the Rogue Island Comedy […]
Posted inBusiness
Newport Restaurant Group appoints Jeff Tenner as Director of Concept Development
Newport Restaurant Group (NRG) this week announced the appointment of Narragansett resident Jeff Tenner as director of concept development. In this new role, Tenner is responsible for the development and business implementation of new concepts and production practices, with a focus on balancing current values with emerging trends and new opportunities. Tenner brings 25 years of industry […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Song of the summer the year you graduated from high school
Written by: Zack Abrams / Stacker From doo-wop to disco and rock to rap, you can learn a great deal about the history of music from the songs of summer from the last 60-plus years. Throughout the decades, pop music has evolved through different genres, stars have risen and fallen, and new technology has led […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Today: Saturday, May 28
Good Morning, today is Saturday, May 28. 🌊 It’s day #3 of the Rogue Island Comedy Festival. Catch the laughs at The JPT at 6 pm, 8 pm, and 10 pm this evening. Lineup, info, and ticket here. 🌊 If you’re planning on doing any shellfishing this weekend, here’s a reminder from DEM about the […]
Posted inSports
O’s erase 6-run deficit vs Red Sox bullpen, win 12-8
By DOUG ALDEN Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Anthony Santander hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning and also had a two-run homer, helping the Baltimore Orioles overcome a pair of six-run deficits to beat the Boston Red Sox 12-8 Friday night. Baltimore trailed 8-2 before Jorge Mateo hit a three-run homer in the […]
Posted inBusiness
Highest-rated seafood restaurants in Providence, according to Tripadvisor
Seafood, once enjoyed only by Americans living on the coasts, is now available everywhere thanks to greatly improved transportation and storing technology. And Americans love seafood: Red Lobster, the casual dining chain, has hundreds of locations in 44 states and brought in $2.5 billion in sales in 2019. But Americans who love seafood seek it […]
Posted inNews
Top stories this week on What’sUpNewp
It was a busy week in Newport County and across Rhode Island. Here’s what stories our readers were reading the most. Top Stories 1 – Firefighters battle four-alarm fire at The Wayfinder Hotel 2 – St. Philomena School Student chosen as the winner for Rhode Island in Doodle for Google Student Contest 3 – Free […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
City of Newport asking the community to help light up the Harbor this July 4th
The City of Newport is gearing up for its annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration and is once again turning to the community to help light up Newport Harbor. Every year, thousands of locals and visitors alike flock to downtown Newport to take in the City’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display. This year, with COVID restrictions lifted, the […]
Posted inNews
Preservation Society opens several Newport Mansions
Starting Memorial Day weekend, The Preservation Society of Newport County will have more of its properties open than at any time since the autumn of 2019, before the COVID pandemic began. The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, and Green Animals Topiary Garden are open daily, including holidays, starting Friday, May 27. Interior house tours are self-guided […]
Posted inBusiness
Tacos On The Hill, Chopmist Charlie’s, and other businesses currently for sale in Rhode Island
The latest listings on BizBuySell, LoopNet, and Kirby Properties show all kinds of businesses currently for sale in Rhode Island. Reasons for selling, when provided, typically do not mention economic hardship, but more often involve the owner retiring or not having time to actively run the business. The names and locations are generally left out, but there are occasional […]