On Friday, March 23, 2018, 10am-12pm at Newport’s Colony House, Washington Square, Newport, RI, History Space, a joint program of the Newport and Rhode Island Historical Societies presents “Myth, Memory, History and Heritage,” a panel of public historians. The panel will be moderated by Ruth Taylor, Executive Director of the Newport Historical Society, and will include: Jason Steinhauer, Director of […]
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 inFood & Drink
RI Seafood’s 3rd Annual Quahog Week returns March 26th – April 1st
Celebrate Rhode Island’s favorite clam with special events and delicious menu selections at a restaurant near you during the 3rd Annual Quahog Week from March 26th – April 1st! Quahog Week is meant to highlight the importance of Rhode Island’s wild harvest shellfish to the state’s history, traditions, and economy. Quahogging has a rich history in […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s happening this week in and around Newport: March 5 – 10
Discover all that’s happening and to do in and around Newport this week, March 5th – 10th, 2018. Of Note – Spring Newport Restaurant Week is now underway until March 11th. Newport Restaurant Week is the best time to check out restaurants in Newport and Bristol Counties with over 50 participating restaurants and fixed-price menus. Occurring every spring and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Live music and entertainment this week: March 5 – 10
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. Monday, March 5th Diego’s: Trivia at 9:30 pmFastnet Pub: The Ubiquitones at 10 pmFifth Element: The Groove Merchants from 7 pm to 10 pmJane Pickens Theater: Call Me By Your Name at 4:45 pm, […]
Posted inThings To Do
Mark your calendars: 18 must-do events in March
Here are the events and activities you can’t miss this March – chronologically, so you don’t miss a thing. See you out there, and don’t forget to show us what you’re doing via #whatsupnewp. FYI – Newport Irish Heritage Month: March 1st – 31st: A celebration of “All Things Irish,” including the 62nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Art Museum’s Art After Dark to present Artist Talk & Film
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, March 8 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 […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Pell, Mount Hope, and Jamestown Bridges reopen to all vehicles (Updated)
Originally published at 2:20 pm, last updated at 23:00 pm As of 11 p.m. this evening, The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) lifted all travel restrictions on the Newport Pell, Mount Hope and Jamestown Verrazzano Bridges. The Bridges will be reopened to all vehicles. This morning, a container truck traveling westbound on the Newport Pell Bridge […]
Posted inNews
Volvo Ocean Race: Vestas 11th Hour Racing to rejoin race ahead of Leg 7
When Vestas 11th Hour Racing rejoins the Volvo Ocean Race for the grueling Leg 7—from New Zealand, across the Southern Ocean, past Cape Horn and into Brazil—the crew will do so with a mixture of heavy hearts and anxiousness. The team hasn’t raced since the collision in the latter stages of Leg 4, during the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Video: Alliance For A Livable Newport’s ‘State Of The City’ forum
How are we doing in our “City by the Sea?” What has been accomplished over the past months? As a function of the city’s Strategic Plan, what are the successes? Where did the city fall short? What can the residents and taxpayers look forward to? Any warning signals to look for? Alliance For A Livable […]
Posted inNews
Volvo Ocean Race initiate independent report into ocean racing at night
Following the collision between Vestas 11th Hour Racing and a non-racing vessel in the final stages of the racing leg into Hong Kong, the organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race have commissioned an independent report into ocean racing at night in areas of high vessel traffic density, to establish what steps race organisers may take […]
Posted inNews
What’sUpNewp Radio #81: Dave McLaughlin, Clean Ocean Access
Dave McLaughlin, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Access, joined me today on What’sUpNewp Radio Edition on AM 1540 WADK Newport to chat about the new Portsmouth single-use plastic bag ban, trash skimmers, rain barrels, Clean Ocean Access’s involvement with the Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover and more. Dave is the Co-Founder of Clean Ocean Access and as […]
Posted inCity & Government
Carson, Euer urge Newport citizens to join meeting with their legislators, councilors on Saturday
Representative Lauren Carson and Senator Dawn Euer are inviting the public to the annual meeting of the Newport legislative delegation and the Newport City Council Saturday, March 3, at 9 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, Newport City Hall, 43 Broadway. The meeting between the Newport City Council members and Newport senators and representatives is scheduled annually to discuss state-level […]
Posted inCity & Government
Water main failure causes temporarily termination of water service in Downtown Newport, service restored (Updated)
This story was originally published at 11:16 on March 1st, it was updated at 3:00 pm on March 1st The City of Newport’s Water Division had to make emergency repairs to a water main in the area of Thames Street and Pelham Street, forcing several streets and areas of Downtown Newport to spend a portion […]
Posted inNews
Reducing Gun Violence: Community Presentation to be held in Portsmouth on March 3rd
From Columbine to Parkland and every town in between, there is no man, woman, or child in the United States immune to the real danger of gun violence. Jennifer Boylan, Volunteer Legislative Lead of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America will be one of the presenters; she will talk about the work Moms […]
Posted inCity & Government
Pell Elementary School becomes first school in Rhode Island to participate in national ‘Gratitude Campaign’
Pell Elementary School will kick off their two-week “Gratitude Campaign” as part of a larger initiative called Look For The Good Project, a Connecticut based non-profit organization that has inspired thousands of kids nationally and internationally to uplift their school communities with gratitude and kindness, Newport Public Schools announced in a press release today. Pell is the first […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Flo’s Clam Shack adds 25-foot shark from Mardi Gras Multi-Club to restaurant decorations
The 25-foot (somewhat) iconic shark that sat atop Mardi Gras Multi-Club in Cranston for many years has found a new home, and it’s on Aquidneck Island. Flo’s Clam Shack announced on its Facebook Page this week that they are “Going to need a bigger shack!” and plan on bringing the shark to “Middletown first”. Flo’s […]
Posted inCity & Government
Senator DiPalma and Representative Abney introduce bill to create commission on biennial budgeting
Senator Louis DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) has introduced a bill (2018-S 2253) that would create a special legislative commission to study the possibility of transitioning Rhode Island to a biennial budget. House Committee on Finance Chairman Marvin Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown) has introduced the companion legislation (2018-H 7801) in the […]
Posted inThings To Do
30+ things to do this weekend: March 2 – 4
Discover all that’s happening, new and to do in and around Newport this weekend. Friday, March 2nd Newport Restaurant Week 2 pm – Oscar Shorts: Live Action at Jane Pickens Theater 4:45 pm – Call Me By Your Name at Jane Pickens Theater 6 pm – The 6th Annual JAC Lantern Parade at Jamestown Arts Center 7 pm – A Collection of Attitudes at […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Live music and entertainment listings: March 2 – 4
Our Newport Live Music and Entertainment Guide is Newport County’s premier and most comprehensive source for live music and entertainment in our area. 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. Friday, March 2nd Buskers: Sean Connell at 9 pmCeltica: Karaoke […]
Posted inNews
Recap: 10 most-read, most-shared stories in February 2018
Wondering what the talk of the town was around Newport in February? While covering dozens of events and posting hundreds of stories in the month of February, it’s the news that’s unexpected, original and breaking news that saw the most traffic on our site. Most-Read Stories Owners of Rosemary & Thyme opening second restaurant in […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: A conversation with Nellie Gorbea, Rhode Island Secretary of State
Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea joined What’sUpNewp’s Frank Prosnitz on this edition of The Open Forum on AM 1540 WADK. The two focused their conversation on cybersecurity, early voting and other important issues with which her office is involved. Gorbea was elected Rhode Island’s Secretary of State in 2015, becoming the first Hispanic elected […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Jazz Assembly Band to perform at schools in Rhode Island and Connecticut
Newport Jazz Festival Assembly, a performance series presented by Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc., which has brought music to dozens of schools throughout Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, will perform in March at schools in East Hartford and Norwalk, CT, and Providence, RI. The series, funded by Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc., connects professional musicians to schools […]
Posted inCity & Government
Senator Euer, Representative Carson denounce federal plan to drill offshore
Opening nearly all of the United States’ coasts to oil and gas drilling would knock the United States backward in environmental protection and sustainability and could have catastrophic effects on the Ocean State, said Rep. Lauren H. Carson and Sen. Dawn Euer today. The two Newport legislators spoke at an Environment Council of Rhode Island […]
Posted inNews
What’sUpNewp Radio #80: Senator Dawn Euer
Senator Dawn Euer (D. Dist. 13, Newport & Jamestown) joined Ryan Belmore and Frank Prosnitz by phone today to chat about legislation that is meant to provide disincentives to the oil industry to prevent drilling off Rhode Island’s coast, her work with reproductive rights, her take on the Governor’s Red Flag Law, healthcare in Rhode Island, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Representative Carson, Senator Euer to participate in events today to protest federal oil drilling plan
Representative Lauren Carson (D. Dist. 75, Newport) and Senator Dawn Euer (D. Dist. 13, Newport & Jamestown) will join Governor Gina M. Raimondo and the Environment Council of Rhode Island for events Wednesday to demonstrate Rhode Island’s opposition to the Trump administration’s efforts to open up nearly all of the United States’ coasts to offshore oil and […]