One way to beat the winter blues? Start making your summer plans! Select tickets for the Hall of Fame Open are now on sale, just in time for holiday gift giving. Just after Wimbledon, the ATP Tour will once again return to Newport for a full week of professional tennis action on the historic grass […]
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 inStyle & Shop, Things To Do
Newport Holiday Stroll returns December 6th – 8th, Kristen Coates provides guide to the 2019 event
The 4th Annual Newport Holiday Stroll will take place in and around Newport December 6th – 8th, 2019. Kristen Coates, owner of Kristen Coates on Bellevue, now leads the shop local effort and allowed us to republish her recent blog post that gives some background to the event and provides some great ideas on how […]
Posted inCity & Government
Preview: Agenda for December 11th Newport City Council Meeting
Newport City Council will host their next regular council meeting on Wednesday, December 11th at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers at Newport City Hall. The meeting is open to the public. If you can’t make it to the meeting, you can watch it live here. The following agenda is a preview. The city will […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Onne van der Wal to present an image, video presentation on Greenland at Jamestown Arts Center
Onne van der Wal will be presenting an image and video presentation of his last two extraordinary trips to Greenland. In 2018 he had the pleasure of joining an owner on his 90 foot private yacht and exploring the West coast of Greenland from Ilulisat and around Disco Island. Onne enjoyed the experience so much, […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment & Health
Newport Harbor Hotel partners with The Bodhi Spa to offer ‘Heat up, cool down, relax, repeat’ spa package
The Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina has announced that they are teaming up with The Bodhi Spa to bring you a spa package that is worth repeating. “Our Heat up, Cool down, Relax, and Repeat package invites you and a guest to experience a cleansing and energizing experience like no other in Newport,” Newport […]
Posted inStyle & Shop
Annual Designer Wreath & Bake Sale to benefit Lucy’s Hearth set for Saturday at Easton’s Beach Rotunda
Add some holiday flair to your front door and help make a difference for the families at Lucy’s Hearth! Lucy Hearth’s 19th Annual Wreath & Bake Sale is set for Saturday, December 7th from 9 am to noon located at the Rotunda at Easton’s Beach. “These spectacular handmade wreaths and delicious baked goods sell out […]
Posted inStyle & Shop, Things To Do
Potter League to host Annual Holiday Artisan Craft Fair on Saturday
The Potter League for Animals will be holding their Annual Holiday Artisan Craft Fair on Saturday, December 7th from 10 am to 4 pm located at 87 Oliphant Lane in Middletown. Over two dozen local artisans will showcase a unique array of merchandise for holiday gift giving. Stop by the Potter League to get special […]
Posted inNews
Newport named among ‘Most Romantic US Destinations to Spend the Holiday Season’
The holiday season may just be the most wonderful time of the year to visit Newport. Fodor’s included Newport this week on its list of the 10 most romantic U.S. destination to spend the holiday season. Here’s what they had to say about The-City-By-The-Sea. “Add a dash of Gilded Age romance to your holiday in […]
Posted inJobs
Now Hiring In Newport: 50+ local businesses
Newport, RI – Looking for a new job, gig, or career? You may be in luck as there are more than fifty companies in and around Newport hiring right now. 22 Bowen’s – Busser – 22 Bowen’s Restaurant Advanced Remarketing Services – Title Specialist Aquidneck Pizzeria – Server and Bartender Balfour Beatty Investments – Residential Maintenance Technician Bank […]
Posted inThings To Do
Newport String Project presents Student Holiday Pop-Up Performances
This holiday season, the Newport String Project celebrates the musicmaking of young violinists, violists and cellists from Newport with a series of three, free, pop-up community performances. As part of the Project’s intensive educational curriculum, the students participate in twice weekly lessons in violin, viola and cello at Newport’s MLK Center. Brimming with festive cheer, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Common Fence Music will present The Sweetback Sisters’ Country Christmas Singalong Spectacular on December 14th
COMMON FENCE MUSIC is thrilled to welcome back to their stage THE SWEETBACK SISTERS’ COUNTRY CHRISTMAS SINGALONG SPECTACULAR! on Saturday, December 14, 2019, 8pm. Doors will open to CFM members at 7pm, non-members at 7:15pm. The concert will take place at the CFP Arts, Wellness & Community Center, 933 Anthony Road, Portsmouth, RI. Tickets to […]
Posted inNews
Consider supporting a local nonprofit on this Giving Tuesday
New research from the YMCA finds that more than 62% of Americans 18-38 support at least one cause per month—and that they likely learned of that cause through social media. Forbes reports that when poll respondents were asked where they learned about those causes that they do support, 48.5% of all respondents said via social media; […]
Posted inNews
Aquidneck Island students inducted into CCRI’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter
The Community College of Rhode Island’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for two-year colleges, inducted sixty-seven new students at its recent fall ceremony. The inductees into CCRI’s Pi Omicron chapter include area students Shirley Dela Dingco of Middletown; Charlotte Baskin and Holly Coelho of Newport; Kenna Poyer of Portsmouth; Zachary Kapstein […]
Posted inFood & Drink
In Celebration of 40th Birthday, Brick Alley Pub will serve $4.95 nacho platters on December 11th
Newport, RI – Mark your calendars, this year’s installment of Brick Alley Pub’s Nacho Day returns on Wednesday, December 11th. To celebrate their 40th birthday, they are rolling back their nacho platters prices to just $4.95 (with purchase of a beverage). So bring your appetite, bring your friends, bring your friends’ friends and go celebrate […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Jamestown Arts Center’s Annual Holiday Arts Market returns December 13 – 14
The Jamestown Arts Center (JAC) celebrates the holidays with the work of artists & artisans during our 2019 Holiday Arts Market on Friday, December 13th from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 14th from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The majority of participating vendors live and work in Rhode Island, making the Holiday […]
Posted inBusiness, Food & Drink, News
Local hospitality employees among RI Hospitality Association’s ‘Emerging Leaders Of The Year’
RI Hospitality Association, the official trade group of the foodservice, lodging, restaurant, and tourism industries, will honor the following Emerging Leaders tomorrow night. “Emerging Leaders are the future of Rhode Island’s Hospitality Industry. These high achievers have demonstrated leadership and are considered to be subject matter experts in their current roles,” says RIHA. “They are driven […]
Posted inBusiness
Rodeway Inn sells for $2.55 million
The Rodeway Inn, located at 31 West Main Road in Middletown, has reportedly sold for $2.55 million. According to Fitzpatrick Team RE/MAX, real estate agent Caroline Cooper acted as the buyer’s representative for the sale of the 42 unit property. The property closed in November 2019, priced at $2,550,000, according to the Fitzpatrick Team. The […]
Posted inNews
Top 10: Most-read What’s Up Newp stories in November 2019
November was a record-breaking month for traffic on whatsupnewp.com. Big thanks to all of you who read and support what we’re doing on a daily basis, we certainly appreciate it. Here are the stories that were most-read and that got the most attention during the eleventh month of the year. 1 (Most Read) Gurney’s adds multi-sensory, […]
Posted inArts & Culture, City & Government
Santa to visit Newport neighborhoods December 10 – 19
Newport Fire Department announced today that they will once again be assisting Santa during his annual visit thru the neighborhood of Newport. Below is the info that you need to know and the expected routes. [ICYMI: Santa to visit Middletown neighborhoods December 2 – 13] UPDATE – December 9th
Posted inCity & Government, Things To Do
League of Women Voters hosting presentation on ‘Defending Democracy: The Information, Cyber and Physical Threats to the 2020 Election Cycle’
The League of Women Voters of Newport County is hosting a presentation by Dr. James Ludes, Vice President for Public Research & Initiatives for Salve Regina University and Executive Director of the Pell Center, on December 4 at 6:00 pm at the Newport Art Museum. The title of his presentation is “Defending Democracy: The Information, […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s Up This Week: 75+ things to do, live music and entertainment listings
Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in and around Newport, Jamestown, Middletown, and Portsmouth this week and weekend, enjoy! Monday, December 2nd On This Day In Newport History: Touro Synagogue Dedicated on December 2, 1763 Santa to visit Middletown neighborhoods December 2 – 13 Christmas In Newport9 am – Walk-In Hours for National Grid […]
Posted inNews
Report: Magnitude 2.0 earthquake recorded three miles off coast of Newport on Sunday
WPRI reported on their Facebook Page on Monday that a Magnitude 2.0 Earthquake was recorded off the coast of Newport on Sunday, December 1st. According to the Earthquake Magnitude Scale, Magnitude there are approximately 900,000 Magnitude 2.5 or less earthquakes per year. Earthquake effects for Magnitude 2.5 or less are described as “Usually not felt, […]
Posted inNews
Report for America to place journalist in Newport to cover race and poverty for The Public’s Radio
Report for America is partnering with The Public’s Radio (formerly Rhode Island Public Radio) to place a journalist in Newport to cover race and poverty. That news came today when Report for America, “a national service program that places talented, emerging journalists into local news organizations to report for one to two years on under-covered […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Raimondo, Grebien announce largest economic development project in Pawtucket’s History
PAWTUCKET, RI- Governor Gina Raimondo and Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien today announced the largest economic development project in Pawtucket’s history. The estimated $400 million project will transform Pawtucket’s waterfront with hundreds of thousands of square feet of new development, including a new professional soccer team that will compete in the USL Championship – the second division […]
Posted inThings To Do
Santa to tour neighborhoods of Portsmouth beginning December 2nd
Santa has confirmed that he will visit neighborhoods in all three Aquidneck Island communities this month. Santa to visit Newport neighborhoods December 10 – 19 Santa to visit Middletown neighborhoods December 2 – 13 Here’s the info for Portsmouth; 2019 Tour info: Santa begins his annual Portsmouth Tour on Monday, December 2nd (night/map 1).Santa will […]