With a fleet of 11 Class40s competing in the Atlantic Cup, the French team #145 Eärendil skippered by Catherine Pourre and Pietro Luciani, crossed the Angola Cables finish line first at 17:02:46, with an elapsed time of 77h 02m 46s, to complete the 648 nautical mile first offshore leg of the Atlantic Cup from Charleston, S.C. to New York […]
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
What’sUpNewp Radio Edition – May 29: Chatting with organizers of Hope Day, Newport 10 Miler, and Great Chowder Cook-Off
It was a jam-packed Tuesday edition of What’sUpNewp Radio Edition today. Brian Sullivan kicked off the show and provided us with the details on Hope Day: Birth Of Our Nation Showcase. The weekend ahead is going to be a busy one in The-City-By-The-Sea with the Great Chowder Cook-Off and Newport 10 Miler both taking place out at Fort Adams. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Gina Raimondo announces her re-election campaign
“Not that long ago, Rhode Islanders were throwing up their hands and giving up. And now, we’re rolling up our sleeves and getting back to work,” Governor Gina Raimondo states in a “Why I’m Running Video” on Tuesday, her official re-election campaign announcement. “We’ve gone from having the 36th worst economy in America to the […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, Things To Do
6th Annual BankNewport 10 Miler returns this weekend
For local runners, the BankNewport 10 Miler is a summer kick-off of sorts, marking the beginning of a season full of fun events and beautiful courses. This year’s BankNewport 10 Miler will host more than 3,000 runners on June 3rd, starting and finishing at Fort Adams. The event is produced by Gray Matter Marketing. BankNewport is […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Charles Lloyd to perform three concerts with different bands as artist-in-residence at 2018 Newport Jazz Festival
The Grammy Award-winning tenor/soprano saxophonist, bandleader, composer and NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd – who turned 80 on March 15 – will be the Artist-in-Residence at the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Investment Managers, performing three concerts at Fort Adams State Park in celebration of his birthday. Lloyd, who last played at the festival in 2016, […]
Posted inBusiness
Newport Car Museum adds new cars, new displays
The Newport Car Museum, which has wowed tens of thousands of visitors, elicited hundreds of five-star reviews and earned readers’ and editors’ choice awards from USA Today and Yankee Magazine since it opened a year ago June in Portsmouth, is adding new cars, new displays, a new gallery and a new gift shop. The enhancements will be completed by Saturday, June […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Watch: Antiques Roadshow – Newport, Hour 3
The third and final episode of Antiques Roadshow in Newport aired on May 28th. The show wrapped up its groundbreaking visit to Rosecliff mansion with even more treasures in “Newport, Hour 3” including a Tiffany & Co. sapphire and diamond ring, a Boston bureau table made around 1770, and M.C. Escher lithographs. Find out which […]
Posted inThings To Do
This Week: Things to do in and around Newport
Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in and around Newport during these last few days of May. Tuesday, May 29th 11 am – Chanler Job Fair at The Chanler at Cliff Walk 4:45 pm & 7:30 pm – RBG at Jane Pickens Theater 5:30 pm – Outdoor Season Open House! at Hall Of Fame Tennis […]
Posted inArts & Culture
This Week: Live music and entertainment listings
Here’s a look at all the live music and entertainment that’s worth seeing, hearing, doing, or knowing about in Newport County this week. Tuesday, May 29th Jane Pickens Theater: RBG at 4:45 pm & 7:30 pmNewport Blues Cafe: Felix Brown at 10 pmNewport Grand: Karaoke at 7:30 pmOne Pelham East: Stu Sinclair at 9:30 pmWharf Pub: Open […]
Posted inNews
Volvo Ocean Race: Team Brunel on a charge with Leg 9 win
The top three teams in the Volvo Ocean Race are within three points after Bouwe Bekking’s Team Brunel won Leg 9 into Cardiff, Wales to vault into contention for the overall race win. The Leg 9 results also mean a new team is at the top of the race leaderboard as Dongfeng Race Team, with […]
Posted inCity & Government
Coast Guard to host oil spill exercise in Westerly on Wednesday
Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England is scheduled to host a full-scale oil spill exercise Wednesday in Westerly. More than 20 federal, state, and local agencies will come together to coordinate a simulated response to a potential major oil spill affecting the Rhode Island coastline. The Coast Guard’s 1st District Headquarters in Boston is responsible for […]
Posted inNews
Volvo Ocean Race: Setting up for an epic finish in Cardiff
Less than a mile separated Volvo Ocean Race Leg 9 frontrunners Team Brunel and team Akzonobel on Monday as the teams prepared to enter the final 100 miles. After almost eight days of intense racing across the Atlantic from Newport, USA, to Cardiff, Wales, the leading pair were today neck and neck. To add to the intensity […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Art Museum to welcome Shara Hughes’ ‘Sun Salutations’ in collaboration with ART&NEWPORT
The Newport Art Museum, in collaboration withART&NEWPORT, is pleased to present an exhibition of Shara Hughes’ paintings titled Sun Salutations, guest curated by art critic Dodie Kazanjian. The exhibition will be on view in the Museum’s Cushing Gallery from June 15 – September 3, 2018. The Newport Art Museum is located at 76 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI. Visit […]
Posted inNews
Volvo Ocean Race: Dutch drag race towards finish in Cardiff
Team AkzoNobel and Team Brunel were racing practically neck and neck on Sunday as the Volvo Ocean Race fleet geared up for a nail-biting Leg 9 finale. With less than 300 miles remaining to the finish line in Cardiff, Wales, the two Dutch boats were just two miles apart at the front of the seven-strong fleet and […]
Posted inOpinion
Guest View: Nicholas Mattiello – Battling the epidemic of our time
The following op-ed was written by Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello. It seems that every generation has its own epidemic to battle. But unlike polio or cholera, the tragic epidemic of our time is one of our own making. Responsible for an estimated 115 deaths every day, the opioid epidemic is devastating not only Rhode […]
Posted inFood & Drink, Things To Do
Newport’s La Forge and Mainsail will compete in 37th Annual Great Chowder Cook-Off
Newport Waterfront Events’ 37th Annual Great Chowder Cook-Off, taking place on Saturday, June 2ND from noon to 6:00 p.m. at Fort Adams State Park, will feature Newport’s La Forge Casino Restaurant and Chef Makoto Osaki and the MainSail at the Newport Mariott and its Chef Eric Steinhauer trying to achieve chowder glory in the “Best […]
Posted inNews
The gap closes as the fleet compresses on Leg 9 of the Volvo Ocean Race
The leading boats in the Volvo Ocean Race have left Friday’s record-breaking conditions in their wake as they bump into a ridge of high pressure that is beginning to slow their progress towards the finish in Cardiff. The Leg 9 leader on Saturday is team AkzoNobel, the crew still basking in the afterglow of setting a new 24-hour distance […]
Posted inCity & Government
DEM announces season closures of shellfishing areas
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced yestreday that about 46 acres of Bluff Hill Cove on the eastern side of Point Judith Pond between Great Island and the Narragansett shoreline are closed to shellfishing based on recent water quality monitoring results. This area must be closed because of unacceptably high bacteria levels. […]
Posted inNews
Tear forces RITBA forced to remove American Flag from Pell Bridge earlier than expected
Early this evening The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) noticed the American flag it hung on the Newport Pell Bridge had developed a slight tear and immediately took the flag down. The flag was hung Friday morning (5/25) from the west tower of the bridge with the intention of flying this flag through the Memorial Day weekend. […]
Posted inNews
What’sUpNewp Radio Edition – May 25: James McGuire, Department Commander of the Rhode Island Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
James P. McGuire, Department Commander of the Rhode Island Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, joined Ryan Belmore and Frank Prosnitz on this edition of What’sUpNewp Radio Edition on AM 1540 WADK to discuss Memorial Day, the 150th anniversary, the Grand Army of the Republic, Rhode Island Civil War history, and more. The Department of […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
25+ things to do in and around Newport this Memorial Day Weekend
Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in and around Newport this Memorial Day weekend! You Might Also Like – Memorial Day Weekend live music and entertainment listings Friday, May 25th 10 am – Helly Hansen Pop-Up Shop at the Hotel Viking 11:30 am – 15th Annual Thomas “Fox” Donnelley Golf Tournament at Green Valley 4:45 pm […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Memorial Day Weekend live music and entertainment listings
Here’s where to find live music, comedy, movies, and entertainment this Memorial Day weekend in and around Newport. You Might Also Like – 25+ things to do in and around Newport this Memorial Day Weekend Friday, May 25th @ The Deck: Yacht Club Rejects at 7 pmBuskers: Live music at 9 pmCeltica: Karaoke at 10 pmClarke […]
Posted inNews
What About Bobby: Well, he desperately needs our help
The reason I am reaching out to you today is because my friend, Bobby Forster, who has contributed to this website and whom that I love very much, desperately needs your help. Bobby has been living with ALS for four years now. Since being diagnosed at the age of 25, Bobby has faced this disease […]
Posted inNews
Team AkzoNobel sets record-breaking pace to lead Leg 9
Team AkzoNobel set a new record for the greatest distance sailed in 24 hours in the history of the Volvo Ocean Race on Friday, eclipsing the previous mark and smashing past the 600-mile barrier as they rocketed through the North Atlantic. Dutch skipper Simeon Tienpont’s crew bested the existing record for a yacht competing in the Volvo Ocean […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Shift Drinks: Jo-Anne “JoJo” Tantimonico, The Smokehouse
With Memorial Day Weekend here and a string of nice weather forecasted for the next few days, it finally feels like summer has made its way to Newport. After a long winter and a grey, overcast spring season, the Vitamin D will be welcomed with open arms. A few of my favorite things once the […]