by Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (District 1, Providence) All Rhode Islanders benefit from our state’s partnerships with Twin River and IGT. Lottery revenues are the third largest source of state income and are used to provide essential state services such as educating children and caring for the needy. These two state partners, IGT and Twin River, […]
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 inCity & Government, News
Second forum planned to help public understand what a unified high school can mean for Aquidneck Island
To help residents understand some of educational benefits to students and the cost benefits to taxpayers of a unified high school, Newport This Week will be hosting the second of their island-wide forums on Wednesday, November 6th from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the CCRI Newport Auditorium. The forum will be moderated by Representative Lauren Carson […]
Posted inThings To Do
Singing For Shelter: 12th annual acoustic Christmas concert will feature more than twenty musicians, raise money for local shelters
The 12th Annual SINGING FOR SHELTER concert is scheduled to take place at Channing Memorial Church, 135 Pelham Street, Newport, RI on Thursday, December 5 from 7:00-9:30 pm. (Doors at 6:30) The annual holiday concert features many of Aquidneck Island’s well-known musicians who annually join together to raise much-needed funds for our two homeless shelters- […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Aquidneck Island Emergency Preparedness Fair planned for November 9th
On Saturday, November 9, 2019 the Aquidneck Island Emergency Volunteer Alliance in collaboration with the Town of Middletown, City of Newport and Town of Portsmouth will be conducting it first ever Emergency Preparedness Fair at the Gaudet Middle School Gymnasium on Turner Road in Middletown from 9 am to 12 pm. “It’s never too late […]
Posted inBusiness, Food & Drink, Things To Do
10+ restaurants serving on Thanksgiving Day in Newport (2019 Edition)
Newport, RI – Whether you’re far away from home and can’t make it back or just to prefer to eat out and keep it simple on Thanksgiving, the following restaurants offer you a warm welcome to join them for dinner on Thursday, November 28, 2019. 22 Bowen’s 22 Bowen’s will be open from noon to […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Providence Children’s Film Festival bringing selection of 2020 Festival contenders to Newport Art Museum
Love film? Looking for a free family-friendly event? Newport Art Museum is serving up something to fulfill your needs this month. The Newport Art Museum announced today that they are “pleased to partner with the Providence Children’s Film Festival (PCFF) to bring inspiring, engaging, and thought-provoking films for all ages to our community”. Hundreds of films are submitted […]
Posted inFood & Drink, Things To Do
Coming to Brick Alley Pub on November 15th: Bourbon. Beer. Wine. Party.
In case you (somehow) hadn’t heard, Brick Alley Pub is pretty famous for their beer and wine dinners. On November 15th, they are upping the game and hosting a combo of all things delicious and fun with their “Bourbon. Beer. Wine. Party.” The event, which is scheduled for 6 pm to 8:30 pm on the […]
Posted inNews
Top 10: Most-read What’s Up Newp stories in October 2019
October was a very busy month for the What’s Up Newp Crew and for traffic on whatsupnewp.com. Here are the stories that were most-read and that got the most attention during the tenth month of the year. 1 (Most Read) Jay Leno, supporters raise more than $30,000 for Newport firefighter battling cancer 2 Daffodillion announces […]
Posted inFood & Drink, News
Taste of Newport raises $120,000 for Child & Family
On Sunday, October 27, 2019 Child & Family hosted their 36th Annual Taste of Newport, presented by Citizen’s Bank, at the Wyndham Newport at the Atlantic Resort. Through the generosity of corporate sponsors and donors, $120,000 was raised to support Child & Family programs. For 153 years, Child & Family has served vulnerable children, at […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Newport Historical Society to host talk with author of ‘Untold Stories from World War II Rhode Island’
The Newport Historical Society is inviting the public to join them for a talk with author Christian McBurney on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at the Newport Historical Society, 82 Touro Street, Newport, RI, at 5:30pm. Christian McBurney will speak for the first time about his newly-released book, Untold Stories from World War II Rhode Island. He […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s Up This Weekend: 25+ 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 weekend, enjoy! Friday, November 1st Rogers High School to host Veteran Day Assembly on November 1st Newport Restaurant Week returns November 1 – 10 Things To Do Newport Restaurant Week3:30 pm – Teens: Silent Book Club at Newport Public Library4:30 […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Lt. Governor McKee issues statement on Aquidneck Island Gas Outage Investigation
Lt. Governor Daniel J. McKee issued the following statement in response to the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers’ report on the Aquidneck Island gas outage in 2018: “The Division’s report outlines serious fault on behalf of Enbridge and National Grid. I strongly endorse the Division’s position not to support any attempt by National Grid […]
Posted inBusiness, Jobs
Join the What’s Up Newp Crew
Live and love Newport? Are you the person that all of your friends come to when they want to know what’s going on in Newport? If so, we want to talk to you. What’s Up Newp is looking for a few awesome people to join our crew – freelancers, photographers, writers, reporters, and all of […]
Posted inBusiness, Style & Shop
Water Brothers moves back to Memorial Boulevard
Water Brothers is on the move again. Water Brothers announced on Wednesday that they have relocated back to 39 1/2 Memorial Boulevard and will reopen on Saturday, November 2nd. “UPDATE: WB MADE A MOVE … Waterbrothers has RELOCATED BACK to 39 1/2 MEMORIAL BLVD. Excited to be back on our original block! and closer to […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Metered Parking Season comes to a close today
Metered parking, which is in effect from May 1st through October 31st, will be free beginning on Friday, November 1st. Off-Season Metered Parking is in effect from November 1st through April 30th, 2020. There is no fee for parking at meters during this time but a 3-hour limit remains in effect until 6 pm daily. […]
Posted inArts & Culture, History
Irish Museum to present “Ireland’s Jewish Community and Newport’s Irish Rabbi.”
The Museum of Newport Irish History will host the third talk in its 18th Annual Michael F. Crowley Lecture Series on Monday, November 4 at 6:00 pm at the Mainstay Hotel & Conference Center. Three guest speakers, Shai Afsai, Sean O’Callahan, Ph.D., and John F. Quinn, Ph.D., will present a talk entitled “Ireland’s Jewish Community and Newport’s […]
Posted inCity & Government, Food & Drink, News
VIDEO: City Council hosts workshop on liquor licenses
Newport City Councilors met on Wednesday night to discuss the City’s existing rules governing liquor licenses in a City Council workshop. The nearly two-hour workshop was open to the public and a few dozen people (mostly restaurant owners and managers) were in the audience of the Council Chambers at Newport City Hall. There are 117 […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Senator Euer, Mayor Bova react to gas outage report
The Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (RIPUC) issued a report today “describing the causes of the natural gas outage on Aquidneck Island on January 21, 2019”. Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) today issued the following statement regarding the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers’ report on the Aquidneck Island gas […]
Posted inNews
The Clagett announces 2019 Clagett Boat Grant program recipients
The C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta is pleased to announce that there will be three recipients for the 2019 Clagett Boat Grant Program. “The Clagett Boat Grant Program is now in its fourth year and we are very pleased to announce that there will be one boat going to the U.S. and […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
VIDEO: Public forum on The Future of Our Island High Schools – “Understanding Regionalization”
To help residents understand some of educational benefits to students and the cost benefits to taxpayers of a unified high school, Newport This Week held a public forum on Monday night to help educate the public on a future model. The first forum, “The Future of Our Island High Schools,” was moderated by Neil Steinberg, President and […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
National Grid issues statement on State and Federal reports examining Aquidneck Island Gas Supply Event
National Grid issued the following statement about the reports from the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration surrounding the Aquidneck Island gas supply interruption from January 2019: “Last winter we experienced an unprecedented gas supply event. The Aquidneck Island community and National Grid were part […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Report details causes of January natural gas outage
The Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (RIPUC) issued the following report today “describing the causes of the natural gas outage on Aquidneck Island on January 21, 2019”. On January 21, 2019, National Grid shut down a significant portion of its natural gas distribution system in Newport and Middletown, resulting in a gas […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Tickets now available for Newport Mansions’ Christmas festivities
The Preservation Society of Newport County has announced that tickets are now available for Christmas at the Newport Mansions, a spectacular holiday celebration for the whole family. Beginning November 23rd,guests can tour some of the seaside city’s most iconic and historic mansions including The Elms, The Breakers and Marble House and enjoy stunning Christmas decorations, live […]
Posted inCity & Government
City Council to host workshop on liquor licenses
Newport City Councilors are set to meet tonight to discuss the City’s existing rules governing liquor licenses in a City Council workshop. The workshop is open to the public and is scheduled to begin at 6 pm in the Council Chambers at Newport City Hall. The workshop was called for during the recent discussion that […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers to release report on January’s natural gas service outage on Wednesday
The Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (RIPUC) announced plans today to issue a report on Wednesday “describing the causes of the natural gas outage on Aquidneck Island on January 21, 2019”. The announcement comes just two days after What’s Up Newp published a story detailing how Newport officials are frustrated, concerned, and […]