Newport Art Museum’s Art After Dark, which recently received the 2017 Editor’s Pick Award for Best Artsy Social Event by Rhode Island Monthly Magazine, is back on Thursday, July 12 from 5 – 9 pm. Each Art After Dark has unique programming for the whole family. This event joins the ranks of the many events and educational programs the Museum currently offers in its galleries at 76 Bellevue […]
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
Two bills sponsored by Rep. Deborah Ruggiero signed into law
Two pieces of legislation sponsored by Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) were signed into law by Governor Gina M. Raimondo last week. Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) The first bill (2018-H 7080A) authorizes a city or town clerk/recorder of deeds, if they so choose, to accept electronic documents for recording real […]
Posted inNews
Peabody’s Beach in Middletown closed for high bacteria counts
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) recommends closing Peabody’s Beach in Middletown for swimming because of high bacteria counts. RIDOH also recommends reopening Oakland Beach in Warwick and Echo Lake Campground in Glocester, based on results from water samples that show bacteria levels within acceptable limits. Camp Watmough’s Beach in Glocester, and Briar Point […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: A conversation with Ron Becker, Co-Presidents of Alliance For A Livable Newport
Ron Becker, Co-President of Alliance For A Livable Newport, joined me on Tuesday’s edition of The Open Forum on AM 1540 WADK Newport to chat about their call for questions for political candidates and the work that ALN is doing out there. Alliance For A Livable Newport wants to hear what Newport’s voters are interested […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: Dave McLaughlin from Clean Ocean Access chats about Swim To Skim, summer initiatives, and more
Dave McLaughlin, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Access, joined me for 45 minutes on Tuesday’s What’sUpNewp Radio Edition on AM 1540 WADK Newport to chat about this weekend’s Swim To Skim, Clean Ocean Access’s summer initiatives and more. Swim to Skim is a 0.9 mile or 1.5-mile open-water swim through Newport Harbor from Perrotti Park to […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Art Museum’s Summer Gala, the Artists’ Ball, to celebrate the Art of Fashion
On Friday, July 20, 2018 the Newport Art Museum will hold its annual summer gala, the Artists’ Ball, the Museum’s largest fundraiser of the year. This fashion forward event’s presenting sponsor is Oscar de la Renta and will feature guest artist Donald Robertson. Tickets for the event, as well as a preview of the items […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: A conversation with Alyson Novick and Melanie Saunders, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, serving Newport County, is changing lives one person at a time by offering nutritional, cultural, educational, and social services for people of all ages and cultures. Alyson Novick and Melanie Saunders from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center joined me on What’sUpNewp Radio Edition on […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Sailing Team roster released by New York Yacht Club’s American Magic, Challenger for 36th America’s Cup
New York Yacht Club American Magic, the U.S. sailing team challenging for the 36th America’s Cup has announced an initial roster of 17 sailors who will train and compete with the team. The accomplished group includes nine Americans and sailors from four other nations. The 36th America’s Cup will take place in March 2021 off […]
Posted inNews
Newport Festivals Foundation makes donation to Girls Rock! RI, helps create Band Booster Program
Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. has announced that they will provide financial support to create the Band Booster program, a new initiative for Girls Rock! RI, whose mission is to use music creation and critical thinking to foster empowerment, collaborative relationships and the development of healthy identities in girls, women, trans and gender non-conforming individuals. The Band […]
Posted inNews
Emmanuel Church awards $10,000 in grants to those in need
Emmanuel Church of Newport announced on Monday that they have recently awarded $10,000 in grant funds to help stabilize people’s lives with housing, food security, and employment resources. In 2001 Margit Baum of Newport bequeathed a Fund for Emmanuel Church to distribute to those in need in Newport. The Reverend Dr. Anita Schell said “ […]
Posted inFood & Drink
John Dunn named General Manager of Harry’s Bar & Burger in Newport
John Elkhay, CEO and Maestro of Chow Fun Food Group, which includes; Ten Prime Steak & Sushi, Luxe Burger Bar, Harry’s Bar & Burger and Xaco Taco announced today the hiring of Newport native, John Dunn, as general manager of Harry’s Bar & Burger in Newport. John Dunn “John truly is one of our best […]
Posted inNews
Keen becomes a sponsor of Newport Folk Festival, will offer limited edition ‘Newport Revival Sandal’
Keen Inc., best known for the Newport sandal designed 15 years ago, has signed on as a sponsor of the Newport Folk Festival. As a sponsor of the festival, which takes place July 27-29, Keen has designed a limited-edition Newport sandal and will donate half of the proceeds to Newport Festivals Foundation’s music education initiatives. […]
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. Unless otherwise indicated, venue is located in Newport. Monday, July 2nd Diego’s: Trivia at 9:30 pmFastnet Pub: The Ubiquitones at 10 pmFifth Element: The Groove Merchants from 7 pm to 10 pmFirehouse […]
Posted inThings To Do
This Week: 30+ things to do in and around Newport
Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in and around Newport this week. Monday, July 2nd 5 pm – Brick Market Book Club at Museum of Newport History 5:30 pm & 8 pm – Won’t You Be My Neighbor at Jane Pickens Theater 6:35 pm – Newport Gulls Home Game at Cardines Field 8 pm […]
Posted inNews
WalletHub: Rhode Island is 3rd Worst State to Start a Business
With new corporate tax reform recently signed into law, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2018’s Best & Worst States to Start a Business. To determine the most fertile grounds for planting and growing new ventures, WalletHub compared the 50 U.S. states across 25 key indicators of startup success. The data set ranges […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Resilience and patience prove keys to success at New York Yacht Club One-Design Regatta
A bad start in light air in a 37-boat fleet can be fatal. If you let it be. Skipper John Baxter and his team on the J/70 Team Vineyard Vines (above) were determined not to let a mistake at the outset of the first race define their regatta. So instead, they got to work, found the advantageous […]
Posted inNews
Turn the Tide on Plastic win sixth place overall with final In-Port Race comeback
It took until the final In-Port Race, but Dee Caffari’s Turn the Tide on Plastic moved off the bottom of the race leaderboard on Saturday, after securing sixth place in the Volvo Ocean Race. The day started with SHK/Scallywag and Turn the Tide on Plastic with equal points on the overall race leaderboard. The tie-break […]
Posted inNews
Teams preparing for final start in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18
(Photo: The Hague stopover. Practice race on board Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag. 28 June Konrad Frost/Volvo Ocean Race) After nine months, 45,000 miles of offshore racing and 10 In-Port Races, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet is preparing to take the final start of the event at the Brunel In-Port Race on Saturday afternoon in The Hague. It […]
Posted inThings To Do
This Weekend: 25+ things to do in and around Newport County
Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in Newport County this weekend. Of note – look for Jamestown’s fireworks display on Sunday night (Newport’s will be on Wednesday). Friday, June 29th 3 pm, 5:30 pm, & 8 pm – Won’t You Be My Neighbor at Jane Pickens Theater 4 pm – Binge BBQ Night! at Ragged […]
Posted inArts & Culture
This Weekend: Live music and entertainment listings
Here’s what’s happening for live music and entertainment in and around Newport County this week. Friday, June 29th Atlantic Resort: Sean Rivers at 4 pmBuskers: Live music at 9 pmCeltica: Karaoke at 10 pmClarke Cooke House: DJ & Dancing in the Boom Boom Room at 10 pmDiego’s Barrio Cantina: Live music at 8 pmDockside: DJs […]
Posted inNews
United Way of Rhode Island names Cortney Nicolato President & CEO
Following a national search, the Board of Directors for United Way of Rhode Island has selected Cortney Nicolato to lead the organization as its next President and CEO. She joins the organization on September 24, 2018, succeeding Anthony Maione, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Nicolato, a resident of Lantana, Texas, was born and raised […]
Posted inNews
Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty lists three luxury Jamestown properties
Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty announced on Thursday that they are exclusively representing the following three luxury Jamestown properties: 609 Beavertail Road, offered at $8,975,000; 90 Battery Lane, offered at $8,250,000; and 850 East Shore Road, offered at $6,850,000. Currently, these three properties represent three of the four most expensive homes active on the […]
Posted inThings To Do
What To Know: City of Newport’s Fourth of July Fireworks Display
The City of Newport will set off its traditional fireworks display on Wednesday, July 4th over Newport Harbor, with a rain date of Thursday, July 5ths. The fireworks show, which is shot off from the North Lawn of Fort Adams, begins after it is dark enough for the show to be seen which is anticipated to be 9:15 PM and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Discounted Newport Jazz Festival tickets available at Newport Visitors Center through July 4
Time is running out to take advantage of the local discount for tickets to the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Investment Manager, so head to the Newport Visitors Information Center by Wednesday, July 4. Discount tickets are just $50 for General Admission to the concerts at Fort Adams State Park on Friday, August 3, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
2018 Newport Folk Festival lineup and announcements (Updated)
Newport, RI – The Newport Folk Festival has begun its annual tradition of rolling lineup announcements ahead of the 2018 Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams. The first announcement came on Newport Folk Festival’s Facebook Page on Wednesday, January 31st, when they announced Courtney Barnett would return to Fort Adams. The Newport Folk Festival will […]