Governor Gina M. Raimondo signed an Executive Order yesterday announcing that the 30th Governor’s Bay Day celebration will take place on Sunday, July 29, 2018. Governor’s Bay Day will include free parking at all Rhode Island state beaches, as well as fishing in Rhode Island’s salt waters without a fishing license. The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority […]
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
Clean Ocean Access re-energizes Sachuest Point Program
Clean Ocean Access (COA) is entering its 12th year of service – with an exclusive focus on Aquidneck Island. In 2014, COA began cleaning Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge as part of the Marine Debris Solutions Lifecycle Project. This program expanded in 2015 and became part of the larger COA Flexible Cleanup Program, which provides […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Island Moving Company and BankNewport to offer Great Friends Dance Festival tickets to local non-profit organizations
Island Moving Company and BankNewport are partnering to give away 150 free tickets to the opening night of the ninth annual Great Friends Dance Festival on July 18, 2018, at St Michaels Country Day School. The community tickets are being distributed to local residents through area social service agencies. “Through our partnership with Island Moving […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Music On The Porch at Eisenhower House continues on July 19th with the Lois Vaughan Quintet
The second Hogan Associates “Music on the Porch” concert at the Eisenhower House in Fort Adams State Park will be on Thursday, July 19th from 5-7 PM. The free concerts will feature the Lois Vaughan Quintet with special performances from guitarist and singer Paul Williams. Concert guests can also partake in refreshments from Newport Storm Breweries and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Folk Festival releases 2018 lineup schedule
With just two weeks until Newport Folk Festival gets underway, organizers of the sold-out event updated their smartphone apps overnight, announcing the 2018 lineup schedule. In an effort to encourage people to download their latest smartphone app, organizers have only released the schedule on their iOS App and Android App. iOS App: http://apple.co/1Httwl1Android App: http://bit.ly/29wkCwq Newport Folk Festival […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: A conversation with Alan Rosenberg, Executive Editor of The Providence Journal
Providence Journal editor Alan Rosenberg joined What’sUpNewp’s Frank Prosnitz on The Open Forum on AM 1540 WADK Newport to talk about the relationship between The Providence Journal and the Newport Daily News, both now owned by Gatehouse; about changes in coverage at the Journal; attack on the free press; and more. Listen to The Open […]
Posted inNews
Clean Ocean Access publishes 2008 – 2017 Water Quality Monitoring Summary Report
Clean Ocean Access has published their 2008 – 2017 Water Quality Monitoring Summary Report, a result of the Clean Ocean Access year-round citizen science weekly water quality monitoring initiative aimed to directly empower the community to provide monitoring data for use in decision making as part of a sound water quality management plan that includes regular […]
Posted inNews
Million Dollar Listing: Home on Chartier Circle in Newport sells for $1.016 million
Lila Delman Real Estate has announced the sale of 11 Chartier Circle for $1,016,000. Lila Delman Real Estate was both the listing and selling company. Melanie Delman, President, and Keith Marvelle, Sales Associate, represented the seller. Kate Leonard, Sales Associate, represented the buyer. “LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Rare beach access to a lovely, quiet, crescent shaped […]
Posted inNews
Dr. Delores M. Etter award recognizes NUWC Division Newport’s top scientists and engineers
Ten Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport employees — two individuals and eight members of three teams — have won the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers for the Year 2017 Award. Employees won in the following categories: Dr. Jesse Belden, a research […]
Posted inNews
High school internship program at NUWC Division Newport features 75 students from 27 schools and leads past interns to engineering careers
This summer, 75 high school students from 27 schools are spending three weeks learning skills relevant to engineering as part of the Undersea Technology Apprentice Program (UTAP) held at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport. The internship program asks students to construct an underwater vehicle that can read instructions underwater and then pick […]
Posted inThings To Do
This Weekend: 40+ things to do in Newport County
Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in and around Newport this weekend. You Might Also Like: This Weekend: Live music and entertainment listings (July 13 – 15)Six Picks: The Best in Local Music This Week (June 12-July 18) Friday, July 13 Rolex New York Yacht Club Race Weekend 5:15 am – Newport Music […]
Posted inArts & Culture
George Clinton will bring Funk to Newport Jazz Festival in August
On Sunday, August 5, a Mothership commander will land on the Fort Adams stage when the 76-year old vocalist, songwriter, producer, bandleader, icon and Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame Inductee George Clinton and his supergroup, the Grammy Award-winning Parliament Funkadelic, perform for the first time at the Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Investment Managers. In […]
Posted inArts & Culture
This Weekend: Live music and entertainment listings (July 13 – 15)
Here’s a look at all the live music and entertainment that’s worth seeing, hearing, doing, or knowing about in Newport County this weekend. Unless otherwise indicated, the venue is located in Newport. Friday, July 13th Atlantic Beach Resort: Rosewood Trio at 4 pmBuskers: Live music at 9 pmCeltica: Karaoke at 10 pmClarke Cooke House: DJ & Dancing in […]
Posted inThings To Do
Dance in the sand with the whole family at Norman Bird Sanctuary’s Beach Bash on August 2nd
Celebrate Summer with Norman Bird Sanctuary at the Beach Bash on Third Beach, August 2nd. Dance in the sand with the whole family at Norman Bird Sanctuary’s Beach Bash on Third Beach, Thursday, August 2nd. Local blues-rock band The Kohaug Allstars will be providing the lively tunes as guests enjoy complimentary wine, beer, lemonade and […]
Posted inThings To Do
Podcast: Shark Week is coming to Newport
On Saturday, July 21st, IYRS School of Technology & Trades & Cox Media will celebrate the launch of Shark Week with a kickoff party that includes an exclusive screening of the first episode of Shark Week before it airs on the Discovery Network! What’sUpNewp will be on hand as a sponsor of the event and […]
Posted inCity & Government
City Council tables ordinances that would change parking season, parking meters
The paid parking season in Newport won’t be extended by two months, hours of parking meters operating won’t be extended for three hours, and rates won’t be changing…at least for now. At Wednesday night’s Newport City Council meeting, Newport City Council was expected to receive four communications from the City Manager that had to do with […]
Posted inThings To Do
The Newport Show to host vintage fashion expert Cameron Silver
The Newport Show has announced that they will host a unique shopping booth of vintage fashion and accessory with Cameron Silver, ‘King of Vintage,’ Decades founder and author, Bravo TV’s ‘Duke of Melrose,’ and Fashion Director of H Halston and H by Halston. The previously scheduled Trunk Show with Cameron Silver at the Newport Historical Society is canceled […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: Boston Marathon fundraising raises $36.6 million in 2018 race
It was officially announced at 10 am on Tuesday that Boston Marathon participants who ran on behalf of more than 260 non-profit organizations raised 36.6 million for charity in 2018, the 122nd year of the historic race. Ashley Wheeler, program manager for the John Hancock Boston Marathon nonprofit program, joined Ryan Belmore to chat about the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Local and national singer-songwriters will take the stage at Newport To Nashville on Thursday night
On Thursday, July 12th, The Newport Playhouse and Cabaret Restaurant will once again be transformed into a listening room for Newport to Nashville. Newport To Nashville is a Nashville Style Listening Room, that showcases local and national songwriters performing their own original songs. In this round, three performers will take the stage for an entertaining […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County will feature Ron Fleming’s Nymphaeum during ‘Arts Behind the Scenes’
The Arts and Cultural Alliance (ACA) of Newport County will feature Ronald Lee Fleming’s Nymphaeum vision in a special two-part ‘Arts Behind the Scenes.’ The first part will focus on the buildup of the Nymphaeum, as well as the Library, indoor theater, outdoor pool, and Cascade of Years of Living Dangerously (CYLD). The second part […]
Posted inJobs
Now Hiring: 117 jobs available in and around Newport right now
Time for a new part-time gig, new full-time job or a new career? Start your job search right here, there are more than 100 businesses hiring right now in and around Newport. FEATURED JOB LISTINGS 12 Meter Charters – Sailing Crew Member on 70-foot charter yacht12 Meter Charters – Sailing Sales RepresentativeAdvanced Remarketing Services – Customer Experience RepresentativeChristine’s […]
Posted inJobs
Featured Job Listing: Director of Child and Youth Christian Education
St. Columba’s Episcopal Church is now hiring a Director of Child (Sunday School ages 4-11 – Sundays 10 am) and Youth (Youth Group ages 12 – 18 – meets once a month) Education. To apply for this job email your details to kw@stcolumbaschapel.org
Posted inJobs
Featured Job Listing: Newport Restoration Foundation – Carpenter
Newport Restoration Foundation seeks to add an experienced carpenter to its crew, undertaking historic preservation projects on nearly 80 buildings in Newport, RI. Required: applicant must have at least 5 years’ experience in rough framing, finish carpentry, and wood siding and roofing, and have the tools for the trade, a valid license and reliable transportation. […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Sailors preparing for 2018 Ida Lewis Distance Race
Photos: Arthur Santry’s Temptation-Oakcliff and Brian Cunha’s Irie are planning for this year’s Ida Lewis Distance Race, which starts August 17 off Fort Adams State Park in Newport, R.I (Photos by Stephen Cloutier) With this summer’s Newport to Bermuda Race now in the history books, veteran sailors such as Arthur Santry (Newport, R.I./Washington, D.C.) and Brian Cunha (Newport) are looking toward […]
Posted inNews
Million Dollar Listing: Home on Kay Street fetches $1.2 million
Lila Delman Real Estate announced the sale of 35 Kay Street in Newport on Tuesday. The home reportedly sold at the full asking price of $1,200,000. Alex Thursby, Sales Associate, represented the buyer. “This is another example of the strength of the Newport market and the demand for the “Top of the Hill” neighborhood,” commented […]