Things continue to look different as the Fall 2021 edition of Newport Restaurant Week approaches, but the commitment to supporting the area’s local dining community remains the same. Newport Restaurant Week returns Friday, November 5 – Sunday, November 14 with area restaurants slated to offer an assortment of crave-worthy discounts and deals for the duration […]
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 inBusiness, Food & Drink
Newport Restaurant Group’s annual gift card fundraiser returns
Newport Restaurant Group (NRG) today announced the return of its annual gift card fundraiser. NRG is doubling its commitment by donating $2.00 from every gift card order this holiday season and all year long, to area non-profits including RI Community Food Bank, Hope’s Harvest RI, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, and Aquidneck Community Table in Rhode Island and Brookline […]
Posted inNews
Reminder: ‘Fall Back’ this weekend; check smoke detectors, too
Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 7 at 2 am, which means you gain an hour of sleep this weekend! Look for lighter mornings, but for it to get darker much earlier in the evening; On Saturday, the sun will rise at 7:23 am and will set at 5:35 pm in Newport. There […]
Posted inCity & Government
$5 million in funding will provide additional emergency shelter capacity to Rhode Island’s homeless service providers
Governor Dan McKee today announced $5 million in funding to provide emergency shelter capacity to Rhode Island’s homeless service providers. McKee’s office says in a press release that this funding will fund 275 emergency shelter beds as we approach the winter months. “Our homeless shelter providers have been frontline heroes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said […]
Posted inCOVID-19, News
COVID-19 vaccine eligibility expanded to children 5 to 11 in Rhode Island
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) today announced that Rhode Island is expanding eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination today to children 5 to 11 years of age. Last night, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended vaccination for children in this age group with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. More […]
Posted inNews
Treasurer Magaziner celebrates the passage of Portsmouth, Central Falls school construction bonds
General Treasurer Seth Magaziner is celebrating the overwhelming support from voters in passing the School Construction Bond referenda in Central Falls and Portsmouth. One of Treasurer Magaziner’s key 2021 legislative priorities was a bill the Treasurer introduced in partnership with Mayor Maria Rivera, Senator Jonathon Acosta, and Representative Joshua Giraldo that will enable the City of Central […]
Posted inNews
Vermont 10 Miler returns to Stowe on November 7
The Vermont 10 Miler returns to Stowe, Vermont on Sunday, November 7. This circular countryside course offers ten miles of Vermont’s most beautiful roads and offers some great late Autumn vistas. The course starts and finishes at Mayo Farm, with the first seven miles on local roads before turning onto the Stowe Bike Path for […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Live Blog: Rhode Island Special Election Results
Voters in Portsmouth, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Senate District 3 participated in a special election today! In Portsmouth, it was a special referendum where voters were asked to approve or reject two questions; Question 1 – SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION PROJECTS BONDS AND/OR NOTES NOT TO EXCEED $21,439,299“Shall an act, passed at the 2020 session of the […]
Posted inCity & Government
City of Newport: West Marlborough Street will be closed to traffic from Nov. 8 – Dec. 3
The City of Newport today is advising motorists that West Marlborough Street will be closed to traffic, from America’s Cup Avenue to Thames Street, beginning on Monday, Nov. 8th until Friday, Dec. 3rd, as crews work to repair and improve an antiquated storm drain. The storm drain, which runs from the eastern end of Marsh Street under the Newport Visitor […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island Foundation offers $60,000 in matching grants to help the Food Bank and Trinity Rep recover from pandemic
The Rhode Island Foundation today announced that it will match every donation the public makes to Trinity Repertory Company during its 2021 run of “A Christmas Carol” with an equal grant to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, up to a total of $60,000. RI Foundation says that the goal is to enable the Food Bank to keep its […]
Posted inBusiness, Jobs, News
‘Back to Business’ initiative launched to aid Rhode Island employers, incentivize workers
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) today announced the “Back to Business” initiative, an incentive program designed to connect businesses with job seekers. Using up to $4.5 million in CARES Act funds, the Back to Business initiative will address the ongoing workforce challenges brought on by the COVID-19 […]
Posted inBusiness, Food & Drink
Flat Waves Food Shack launches Island Time Catering Company
Aquidneck Island is welcoming a new catering company, inspired by coastal cities around the world. Island Time Catering Company is a new catering company based on Aquidneck Island and is a spin-off of the island staple – Flat Waves Food Shack, located on Aquidneck Ave. Flat Waves has catered for nearly 10 years and just […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
One-lane travel on a portion of Bellevue Avenue scheduled for this week
The City of Newport is advising motorists to expect a traffic pattern change on Bellevue Avenue this week as crews begin a permanent road restoration to the intersection at Narragansett Avenue. The City of Newport, Department of Utilities, Water Division (NWD) has awarded a contract to Biszko Contracting Corp. to restore the intersection following improvements […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Winter Farmers Market finds new home at Stoneacre Garden, will host both Saturday and Wednesday markets
Aquidneck Community Table recently announced a new partnership with Stoneacre Garden, where their farmers market will be held for the 2021-22 winter season on Saturday mornings from 9 to noon, adding a second shopping day on Wednesday afternoons, from 2 to 5, through the holiday season. Stoneacre’s new patio will host both Saturday and Wednesday […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Where to dine out for Thanksgiving dinner in and around Newport
Several restaurants in Newport County have confirmed that they will be open and offering their take on Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 25. You’ll find the Thanksgiving flavors you crave, and likely something new, from the restaurants. You’ll also continue to see some restaurants are offering to-go options. If you plan on dining out or […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s Up This Week: Empire Strikes Back, Tom Rush, Newport Restaurant Week, and more
Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in and around Newport this week. This story may be updated as we learn about additional events or listings. Have an event you’d like to see added to this list or a future list? Add it to our event calendar. Note: An event or performance may change at […]
Posted inNews
New Around Jamestown Record set at 47 minutes 42 seconds
A new outright record was set on Saturday, October 30th for the Around Jamestown Record. Casey Brown on his Foiling Kiteboard, Wyspa Tech, completed his attempt around Jamestown with an elapsed time of 47 minutes and 42 seconds and an average speed of 22.4 knots. The Around Jamestown Record is a perpetual all-out record for sailing around Conanicut Island (also […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Newport Historical Society to host ‘Virtual Book Talk’ with Anderson Cooper
Newport Historical Society will be hosting a virtual book talk with Anderson Cooper on Thursday, November 4 from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. During the talk, Anderson will discuss his new book Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. Cooper’s new book is a work of narrative history about the rise and fall […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Billy Manzo Pizza pivots to frozen pizza; will close Federal Hill Pizza in Providence
Billy Manzo Pizza is launching in 2022, with Rhode Island’s own Italian Certified Master Pizzaiolo pulling from his roots to take advantage of the frozen pizza market. In order to respond to the needs of this new venture, he will phase out his Providence “Federal Hill Pizza” location, but maintain his Warren, Rhode Island location […]
Posted inNews
Paid metered parking season comes to a close on Sunday
Parking at a meter in Newport will be free beginning on Monday, November 1. In 2021, the paid metered parking season ran from May 1 through October 31. Through April 30, 2022, there is no fee for parking at meters but a 3-hour limit remains in effect until 6 pm daily. Newport Police Department and […]
Posted inCity & Government
RITBA completes transition to electronic-only tolling on Newport Pell Bridge
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) today announced that the transition to all-electronic tolling on the Claiborne Newport Pell Bridge is now complete. The last cash toll was taken at 11 pm on October 28, 2021. “Despite the bad weather earlier this week, our crews were able to complete the transition and traffic […]
Posted inBusiness, Jobs
101 job opportunities available right now in and around Newport
Here’s who’s hiring right now in the Newport area
Posted inBusiness, Jobs
Newport Hospital hosting hiring event at Wyndham Newport Hotel on November 9 & 10
Lifespan will be hosting a Newport Hospital Hiring Event at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, located at 240 Aquidneck Ave in Middletown, from 9 am to 6 pm on Tuesday, November 9 and Wednesday, November 10. Applicants are asked to come prepared as interviews and offers will be on the spot in some cases. Tuesday, November […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Joan Lynch
via O’Neill Hayes Funeral Home Joan M. Lynch of Newport passed away peacefully on October 27, 2021, at the age of 91. She was born Joan Marie Murphy in Newport on April 26, 1930, the second of four children of Cornelius F. Murphy and Loretta (Nuss) Murphy. She was the wife of the late […]
Posted inNews
National Grid making progress in restoration efforts
National Grid has restored nearly 300,000 customers (including over 100,000 overnight) throughout New England as of Thursday morning, following a powerful Nor’easter that began Tuesday night and lingered in the region throughout most of Wednesday. As of 9 am, 160,113 (146,429 in MA; 13,684 in RI) customers remained without power. LIVE BLOG | Rhode Island […]