Tim Towey makes his weekly stop by the show and will join Ryan Belmore for a conversation on the Tiverton Casino, to chat about some local people doing some great things, Teacher Of The Year, and all the latest on what’s happening, new, and to do in and around Newport County and beyond. Tune into What’sUpNewp Radio […]
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
The Open Forum – May 31: A convo with Len Lardaro, University of Rhode Island economist
Rhode Island economy – bliss or abyss. A deal for a new Pawtucket Red Sox stadium by the numbers. How do you turn around a $60 million deficit a few months ago into a $38 million surplus a couple of weeks before the end of the fiscal year? Is Rhode Island’s economy as good as […]
Posted inThings To Do
This Weekend: 30+ things to do in and around Newport
Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in and around Newport this weekend. Friday, June 1st 4 pm to 8 pm – Mission Nights at Ragged Island 4:45 pm & 7:30 pm – RBG at Jane Pickens Theater 5 pm – Leukemia Cup at New York Yacht Club 5 pm- Fort Adams Ghost Hunt 5:30 pm – An Evening Talk […]
Posted inArts & Culture
This Weekend: 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 weekend. You might also like – This Weekend: 30+ things to do in and around Newport Friday, June 1st @ The Deck: Chopville at 7 pmBuskers: Live music at 9 pmCeltica: Karaoke at 10 […]
Posted inNews
Volvo Ocean Race: Next edition of the race planned for 2021 under new ownership
As the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 builds towards an exciting finish in June in The Hague, organisers can confirm the next edition of the race will start in 2021, under new ownership. Atlant Ocean Racing Spain, led by Richard Brisius, Johan Salén and Jan Litborn, will take over the Volvo Ocean Race from Volvo Group […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
International Tennis Hall of Fame to partner with seven local charities in Aces for Rhode Island
When the ATP World Tour comes to Newport this July, every ace fired off on stadium court will mean more than just a point on the scoreboard- it will also result in raising significant funds to support local charities. The International Tennis Hall of Fame has partnered with seven local non-profits to launch Aces for […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Newport Art Museum to host Newport String Project Season Finale Concert
Last fall, the Newport Art Museum proudly hosted the Newport String Project’s Season Opening concert. The Museum is delighted to welcome them back for a festive close to their fifth season at the Season Finale Concert in the galleries of the historic N.A. Griswold House on Sunday, June 3, at 2pm. The Newport Art Museum is located at 76 Bellevue Avenue, […]
Posted inThings To Do
Newport Tour Guides & Greeters News – #22: Newport In June: Gardens, Polo, Chowder Cook-Off and A big Flower Show
Yes, Virginia, Winter has finally bid us a fond adieu, and at last, Summer beckons. It’s time to enjoy June. With this wonderful change in the weather comes all the best that Newport can offer resident and visitor alike. We welcome several garden experts this month to share a bit of history about our city’s […]
Posted inNews
What’sUpNewp Radio Edition – May 30: The Newport Architectural Forum; Pastor Paul Hoffman
On June 02, various organizations within the Newport community are coming together to celebrate this vast and rich architectural heritage. Ross Cann joined us today to chat about The Newport Architectural Forum, a one-day symposium that will include lectures by scholars, lunch, and visits to important buildings which played such a central place in the […]
Posted inNews
The Open Forum – May 30: Pro-Choice Advocates, The Ireland-RI Connection
Mary Ann Sorrentino, the former head of Rhode Island’s Planned Parenthood, and longtime advocate for women’s rights, joined WUN’s Ryan Belmore and Frank Prosnitz in advance of a press conference later in the week (on Thursday) at which she and others will advocate for passage of legislation in Rhode Island that would make Roe V. Wade the law in […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Agriculture Day: $210,000 in grants awarded to 21 local food businesses across Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), along with its partners, today awarded over $210,000 to 21 local food businesses as part of its annual Agriculture “Ag” Day celebration at the State House. The awards, funded under the Local Agriculture & Seafood Act (LASA) grant program, help new and existing small businesses and food […]
Posted inCity & Government
Raimondo, Deepwater Wind: ‘Revolution Wind Project’ will create 800+ construction jobs; will power 200,000+ homes
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Deepwater Wind CEO Jeff Grybowski announced today in a press release that the Revolution Wind project is expected to create more than 800 direct construction jobs, 50 good-paying, permanent jobs for Rhode Islanders at every skill level and hundreds more indirect jobs. In addition, Deepwater announced it will invest $250 […]
Posted inJobs
110+ businesses are hiring 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 […]
Posted inThings To Do
23rd Annual Newport Flower Show set to take Place at Rosecliff from June 22 – 24
The 2018 Newport Flower Show, themed Cottages: Smart & Small, will take place at Rosecliff from Friday, June 22 through Sunday, June 24, 2018. America’s premier summer flower show will celebrate the tiniest of homes, which are smart in both technology and style; their adjacent gardens are equally thoughtful, livable spaces, both functional and beautiful. Newport Flower Show highlights […]
Posted inCity & Government, Environment & Health
Newly proposed Pawtucket Red Sox legislation would remove taxpayer risk
A revised approach for the proposed new Pawtucket Red Sox stadium that removes the risk to the state’s taxpayers will be considered by the House Finance Committee on Thursday, May 31, at the Rise of the House (approximately 5:30 p.m.), according to a press release issued on Tuesday by Larry Berman, Communications Director for the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Coast Guard hones in on safety as summer boating season commences in Northeast
The Coast Guard released its 2017 Recreational Boating Statistics report Tuesday, revealing boating fatalities nationwide totaled 658, the second highest number in five years. In the Northeast, recreational boating deaths decreased from 55 in 2016 to 54 in 2017, according to the report. Thirty-nine of the 54 people who died drowned and 41 of the 54 deaths […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Best-selling author Ann Hood hosts free evening talk in Newport on June 1
Rhode Island native Ann Hood – the best-selling author of 14 novels, three memoirs and books for young adults – will host an evening talk, free and open to the public, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 1 at the Redwood Library & Athenaeum, 50 Bellevue Ave. Hood will talk about her relationship with books, the writing life and […]
Posted inNews
SHK/Scallywag completes arrivals into Cardiff
The full fleet of seven Volvo Ocean Race boats has now arrived in Cardiff, Wales, with David Witt’s Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag the final team to cross the finish line in Leg 9 of the Volvo Ocean Race. The team finished just under a day behind the leaders on this transatlantic race, after falling off the […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Eärendil wins Leg 1 of The Atlantic Cup
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 […]
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 […]