Ryan Belmore
Ryan Belmore is the Owner and Publisher of What'sUpNewp. He has been involved with the award-winning local news website since shortly after its launch in 2012, leading it to be named Best Local News Blog in Rhode Island by Rhode Island Monthly readers in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Ryan has spent 38 years living in Rhode Island, and after making Newport his home for more than a decade, he recently moved to Alexandria, Virginia to support his wife's career opportunity. Despite this move, Ryan continues to focus solely on What'sUpNewp and travels back to Newport at least once a month. He is dedicated to building the site into the go-to news source for Newport and beyond. Ryan is also a member of several organizations, including the Board of Directors for Potter League for Animals.
Posted inArts & Culture
Call for Entries: Newport Annual Members’ Juried Exhibition
The Newport Art Museum will be accepting work for jurying for the Newport Annual Members’ Juried Exhibition, January 20 (2 – 6 pm), January 21 (10 am – 4 pm) and January 22 (12 – 4 pm) in the Museum’s Cushing Gallery at 76 Bellevue Avenue, Newport. Artists submitting to the exhibition may pre-register and pre-pay their entry fee at newportartmuseum.org. Those […]
Posted inCity & Government
VIDEO: Newport Transportation and Visitors Center (Gateway Center) Exterior Renovations Update
The Alliance for Livable Newport (ALN) hosted a Community Forum and Information session on the upcoming improvements to the Newport Transportation and Visitors Center (Gateway Center) on Monday, November 28th in the lobby of the Transportation and Visitors Center on America’s Cup Avenue. Representatives of the team leading the effort discussed the planned work, provide […]
Posted inCity & Government
City of Newport Launches a Flood Protection Website
The City of Newport, Department of Planning, has launched a website where users can understand the implications of flooding and learn how to protect themselves, their homes and businesses before, during, and after a flood. The City of Newport, Department of Planning is dedicated to the safety of all residents and infrastructure. Understanding flooding and being able to protect yourself […]
Posted inNews
Salve Regina University Will Host a TEDx Event, Now Accepting Proposals
Salve Regina University will host a TEDx university event on March 25, 2017 and is now seeking proposals from prospective speakers. Launched in 2009, TEDx is program of locally organized events that bring the community together to share a TED-like experience. Some of the best talks from TEDx events have gone on to be featured […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Just Hours After Going On Sale, Tickets for the 2017 Newport Folk Festival are Nearly Sold-Out
The 2017 Newport Folk Festival is nearly eight months away and not a single artist has been announced for the three-day festival, yet people trust producers enough to buy almost every single ticket that was available today when tickets went on sale. Tickets for the 2017 Newport Folk Festival went on sale at 10 a.m. on […]
Posted inNews
Poll: Where Will You Make Your Charitable Contributions?
During this holiday season most of us are inundated with requests from charitable organizations – all hoping to get you to make that last minute tax-deductible contribution before year’s end. [os-widget path=”/ryanbelmore/charitable-giving” of=”ryanbelmore” comments=”false”]
Posted inNews
Governor Raimondo is Hoping Rhode Island Will Become First State to Pilot Large-Scale Deployment of 5G Wireless
Governor Gina M. Raimondo today announced her intention to position Rhode Island at the forefront of the development of next-generation broadband networks, including 5G (Fifth Generation Wireless) networks. “To make Rhode Island one of the most desirable places to live, work and do business in America, we need to build the infrastructure of the future,” […]
Posted inCity & Government
City To Hold Public Meeting For Drainage Watershed That Includes Whitwell Ave. and Surrounding Area
The Newport Department of Utilities, Water Pollution Control Division and the engineering consultant Fuss & O’Neill have been working on the Drainage Investigation and Flood Analysis Project for the drainage watershed that includes Whitwell Ave and surrounding area that discharges into the Moat at Ellery Road. The City recognizes that participation from the residents and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
1,100 Aquidneck Island Students Learn To Save Our Seas
Three screenings of the environmental documentary, A Plastic Ocean, reached over 1100 Aquidneck Island student in newportFILM’s biggest, most inclusive educational outreach effort yet. The collaborative effort, which included 7 different public and private Aquidneck Island schools, was made in support of the latest initiative by Clean Ocean Access to spearhead a “Ban the Bag” […]
Posted inThings To Do
Children Invited to Explore Nature at Norman Bird Sanctuary’s Vacation Camps
Nature-based camp offers an active alternative to idle vacation time by immersing children in fun and educational activities in nature. Norman Bird Sanctuary camp offerings include a mini-camp during December and weeklong camps during February & April public school vacation weeks. Age-appropriate and innovative camps offer children grades K-6 a unique blend of fun-filled, hands-on […]
Posted inNews
Newport Waterfront Events Finds New Long-Term Home, Will Host 20 – 30 Events Annually in East Providence
It’s been more than two years since the Newport Yachting Center sold to the Peregrine Group, and Waterfront Productions LLC, a division of RI Waterfront Events, has finally found a new long-term home in Rhode Island. While the Newport Waterfront Events crew has gone on to host events at India Point Park, Alex & Ani […]
Posted inThings To Do
20 Can’t-Miss Events in December
There’s Christmas In Newport, Newport Holiday Stroll and dozens of other events happening throughout Newport to celebrate the holidays this December. What’sUpNewp went through many different calendars to narrow down a list of events that you shouldn’t miss. Here are our 20 favorite things happening in and around Newport this December; 1 – Opening of Christmas […]
Posted inNews
Obituary for Malcolm Warner “Mac” Chrupcala
Rhode Island’s musician community and all of Newport was reeling on Sunday when word spread that Malcolm ‘Mac’ Chrupcala, a long-time local musician, band leader and teacher had died. The following is his obituary via Memorial Funeral Home. Malcolm Warner “Mac” Chrupcala, 75, of Portsmouth died Saturday, November 26, 2016 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Salve Regina University Will Host 3 Christmas and Holiday Concerts in December
Salve Regina’s department of music, theatre and dance will present three Christmas and holiday concerts that will include performances from the university’s choral groups along with the Newport Community Symphonic Band and the Newport County Orchestra. Admission to all concerts is $8 for general admission and $5 for youths and senior citizens. Tickets are available […]
Posted inHealth & Fitness
van Beuren Charitable Foundation grants $500,000 to Sail Newport for the new Marine Education and Recreation Facility
Sail Newport, Rhode Island’s Public Sailing Center, announced today that the van Beuren Charitable Foundation (vBCF) has awarded a $500,000 grant to Sail Newport’s Campaign for Blue Space, which will support a new education and recreation facility in Fort Adams State Park. The vBCF is a philanthropic family organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Mudville Pub and Mama Leone’s Look to Swap Liquor Licenses, Mama Leone’s to Become Antonio’s Pizza
There’s changes ahead for Mama Leone’s, Mudville Pub and the liquor license scene; according to recent city applications. It starts with Mama Leones, which has been closed since a car crashed into the front of the building in March. It appears as they will reopen as Antonio’s Pizza. According to a recent application submitted to the City […]
Posted inFood & Drink
New Italian Restaurant and Bar Looks to Open Off of Lower Thames Street in Newport
There a brand new restaurant looking to open in a unique location in Downtown Newport. Ciro’s Pomodoro Italian Restaurant & Bar will open at 10 Brown & Howard Wharf, according to a recent application in front of the City Of Newport Board Of license Commissioners. It appears that this new restaurant has purchased the Class BV alcoholic beverage license (full […]
Posted inCity & Government
Improvements to Gateway Center Should Be Completed by June
The Alliance for Livable Newport (ALN) hosted a Community Forum and Information session on the upcoming improvements to the Newport Transportation and Visitors Center (Gateway Center) on Monday evening in the lobby of the Transportation and Visitors Center on America’s Cup Avenue. Representatives of the team leading the effort discussed the planned work, provide renderings […]
Posted inCity & Government
16 Newly Elected Legislators Will Participate in Orientation at State House Today
The 16 newly elected members of the Rhode Island General Assembly — an incoming class that includes 12 in the House of Representatives and 4 in the Senate — will participate in an all-day orientation session on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the State House. The Biennial Legislative Orientation Session will begin at 9:15 a.m. and […]
Posted inNews
Poll: Are You in Favor of Expanding the Number of Charter Schools in Rhode Island?
Massachusetts voters just voted against lifting the cap on the number of charter schools in the state. Rhode Island has debated similar issues. Those opposed to expansion of charter schools fear they will syphon money from public schools. Teachers’ unions also oppose charters, fearful of the loss of funds to public education and charter school […]
Posted inNews
Middletown Woman Wins $10,000 on Daily Numbers
A Middletown woman claimed a $10,000 Daily Numbers win from the November 24th evening draw, according to the Rhode Island lottery. She wagered $1.00 on two four-digit straight bets and matched all four digits in the exact order they were drawn to win $5,000 on each. She does not have any immediate plans for the […]
Posted inBusiness
Newport Business News: November 28, 2016
Keeping up with what’s happening and new with Newport businesses can be tough, we decided to do something about it in order to help you (and us) keep track of all that’s happening in the City-By-The-Sea. This is ‘Newport Business News’, a weekly column where we keep you in the know of what’s happening with […]
Posted inCity & Government
DEM Seeks Early Input on New Farmland Access Program
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) will hold a third public workshop on the State’s new Farmland Access Program next month. The voluntary, pilot program – approved by voters as part of a 2014 environmental bond measure – helps ensure Rhode Island’s farmlands remain in farming. During the workshop, DEM will highlight and […]
Posted inCity & Government
Community Forum to be Held to Discuss Aquidneck Island’s System of Fresh and Salt Waters
Water is the lifeblood of Aquidneck Island – residents and visitors value clean coastal waters for swimming, sailing and fishing, and rely on surface reservoirs for safe, plentiful drinking water. Stormwater runoff, which washes pollution into reservoirs and coastal waters, is a major problem throughout the U.S. With relatively little protected watershed, large surface reservoirs, and some of […]