Coast Guard Station Castle Hill is providing a safety zone in Newport Harbor after the Tall Ship SSV Oliver Hazard Perry lost power and hit multiple other boats before grounding near Perrotti Park on Sunday evening, according to a press release from Coast Guard Station Castle Hill. The SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, an educational tall ship […]
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 inArts & Culture
Live music, comedy and entertainment listings: Oct. 16 – 20
A look at where to find live music, comedy, movies, karaoke and more this week. You Might Also Like – 25 things to do in and around Newport: Oct. 16 – 20 Monday, October 16th 4:30 pm & 7:30 pm – Victoria and Abdul at Jane Pickens Theater6 pm to 9 pm – Julio Amaro at Perro Salado7 pm to […]
Posted inNews
Island Moving Company names Danielle Genest as new Associate Director
Miki Ohlsen, Artistic Director of Island Moving Company (IMC), has chosen former IMC dancer Danielle Genest to fill the role of Associate Artistic Director starting immediately. A Jamestown native, Genest began her dancing career at the age of three at the Newport Academy of Ballet and went on to dance with the Hartford Ballet, Janusphere […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
40 things to do this weekend in and around Newport: Oct. 13 – 15
Discover what’s happening, new and to do in and around Newport this weekend. You Might Also Like – Live music and entertainment listings: Oct. 13 – 15 Friday, October 13th 11 am – Beginning Watercolors at Portsmouth Arts Guild 12 pm – Free Essential Oils Workshop at Thames Street Yoga 12 pm to 6 pm – […]
Posted inBusiness
People’s Credit Union raises more than $1,000 for hurricane relief efforts
People’s Credit Union, with the help of member and employee donations, recently raised $1,041 for CUAid, a program started by the National Credit Union Foundation to provide assistance during disaster situations. Throughout the month of September, all six People’s Credit Union branches had collection containers where members and employees could donate to CUAid. The credit union […]
Posted inNews
Aquidneck Island Weekend Open Houses: Oct. 14 – 15
Here is a rundown of the open houses this weekend in Newport, Portsmouth, and Middletown. Buy a house, stay a while! Newport 9 Cliff Ave. (Pictured Above) Price: $1,535,0001,859 sq. ft.4 BD/4+ BAPresented by: Lizbeth KirwinBrokered by: LILA DELMAN REAL ESTATESaturday from 12 pm to 2 pm 37 1/2 Thurston Ave. Price: $1,535,0002,080 sq. ft.4 BD/2+ BAPresented by: LOU UPHAMBrokered […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Volvo Ocean Race: Teams to face first test in Saturday’s MAPFRE In-Port Race
The first official racing of the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race will take place on Saturday afternoon with the MAPFRE In-Port Race Alicante, marking the first point-scoring competition of the event. The starting gun will fire at 14:00 local time (12:00 UTC) with seven of the best sailing teams in the world pushing hard to lay down a marker in […]
Posted inNews
Portion of I-95 North in Exeter will be closed for the weekend
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s next rapid bridge replacement is the Tefft Hill Trail Bridge on I-95 in Exeter. Starting tonight, RIDOT will need to close a portion of I-95 North for 56 hours to complete the work. This approach will save nearly $1 million and four months of delays as compared with traditional construction […]
Posted inThings To Do
The Do’s and Don’ts of the 27th Annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival
Bowen’s Wharf will host their 27th annual Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival on October 14th and 15th on the Downtown Newport waterfront. Honoring the “Harvest of the Sea,” this ever-expanding event features lobster dinners, clam chowder, stuffed quahogs, clam cakes, shrimp, scallops, raw oysters and clams as well as a few dishes for landlubbers and kids in a […]
Posted inCity & Government
Video: Public forum on school facilities at Rogers High School
Governor Gina M. Raimondo, Treasurer Seth Magaziner and Education Commissioner Ken Wagner held a public forum on school facilities at Rogers High School on Monday, October 12th at 6 pm. It was the first of a series of public forums held around the state to provide the Governor and the Rhode Island School Building Task Force […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: A conversation with Tim Tobin – Life after Hurricane Irma
A trio of hurricanes causes incredible devastation in physical damage – and loss of life – in August and September in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. The Florida Keys were among the hardest hit. Tim Tobin, who lives locally and owns a home in the Keys, shares his experiences during and after the hurricane, painting […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Hispanic film festival will run at Salve from October 15 – 29
Five films produced from a variety of Spanish-speaking countries will be screened as part of the second annual Festival de Cine, an Hispanic film festival hosted by Salve Regina University Oct. 15-29. All films are open to the public and will be presented in the DiStefano Lecture Hall, located in the Antone Academic Center on […]
Posted inBusiness
Newport International Boat Show donates $15,000 to areas affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria
Newport International Boat Show, announced today that it has committed $15,000 to various organizations helping to assist those in the Caribbean islands affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. “Our industry is like a tight-knit family when a disaster like this impacts so many lives, it affects us all. We are collaborating with on-the-ground organizations that […]
Posted inThings To Do
Spooky things to do in and around Newport this October
As the middle of October approaches in Newport a spooky wind sweeps in and strange things begin to go bump in the night. Here’s all that’s happening in and around Newport in October that is spooky, frightful, terror-filled and spooktacular… 1 – Olde Town Ghost Walk Tours depart nightly at 8 p.m. Ghost Tours of Newport […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Seasonal restaurants, patios begin to close for off-season
As we make our way quickly towards the end of October, many restaurants (particularly among the waterfront) are preparing to call it a season and close during the off-season until next spring. While a lot of the restaurants wait until after the Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival, some have already battened down the hatches. The What’sUpNewp Crew […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Live music and entertainment listings: Oct. 13 – 15
Discover where to find live music, karaoke, comedy, dancing and entertainment this weekend in and around Newport! YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE –40 things to do this weekend in and around Newport: Oct. 13 – 15 *Unless otherwise noted, the venue is located in Newport. Friday, October 13th Buskers: John Brazile at 9 pmCeltica: Karaoke at 10 pmClarke Cooke House: DJ & […]
Posted inNews
Newport Police Department to host open house for ‘Explorer Program’ on October 18th
On Wednesday, October 18, 2017, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, the Newport Police Department will hold an open house and information session for the Newport Police Explorer program at the Newport Police Station Assembly Room, 120 Broadway. The Explorer Program is open to all The Explorer Program is open to all male and female […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: A conversation with Arilyn Mithcell, Mary-Gail Smith and Fred Schoch
Figuratively, we travel from a concert hall in Gargilesse – Dampierre, France to the Charles River in Boston. Arilyn Mitchell, a 17-year-old harpist who plays with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, joined me with Mary-Gail Smith of the Alliance Francaise of Newport recently on AM 1540 WADK Newport. Alliance Francaise is sponsoring Arilyn’s concert on […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Citizen’s Bank Pell Bridge Run set to take place on October 22nd
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) Foundation will once again host the Citizen’s Bank Pell Bridge Run over the Newport Pell Bridge on Sunday, October 22nd. The Run is a 4-mile charity run/walk with 100% of the proceeds going to support nonprofits and local community organizations. The Run provides a rare opportunity for the public to […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Bash & Pop rock The Met on October 12th
Along with being the bass player for alternative rock icons The Replacements, Tommy Stinson is also an accomplished songwriter. He’s had a solo career consisting of a couple albums and a stint with the power pop act Perfect during the ‘90s. Recently, Stimson resurrected another act from the ‘90s that he used to be in […]
Posted inCity & Government
Recap: October 11th Newport City Council Meeting
If you missed Wednesday night’s regular meeting of the Newport City Council, you didn’t miss much. The Council worked through the entire agenda for the night in just 17 minutes, in front of about 10 residents, before going into executive session. Here’s how things were voted on by City Council (all members were present); The […]
Posted inBusiness, Food & Drink
Panera Bread partners with Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation for 16th Annual ‘Pink Ribbon Bagel’ promotion
Panera Bread is once again partnering with the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation during its 16th annual ‘Pink Ribbon Bagel’ promotion. Throughout the month of October, to commemorate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a portion of proceeds from all Pink Ribbon Bagels sold in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts will go to the Pawtucket-based non-profit. […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
New art exhibit brings ocean sciences to Sail Newport
For the first time, a unique traveling art exhibit will make its way to the east coast of the United States, showcasing recent ocean science discoveries that shed new light on our oceans. Sail Newport’s new facility hosts the “Artist at Sea” exhibit from the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) highlighting the work of ten artists […]
Posted inNews
Temporary Sakonnet River channel restrictions required during next phase of demolition of the old Sakonnet River Bridge
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced on October 10th that they will be restricting travel through the Sakonnet River Channel for approximately one month, starting Monday, October 23. The restrictions are needed to allow for the safe removal of the old Sakonnet River Bridge. While bridge demolition activities are underway from 6 a.m. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Author Christina Sharpe to present Atwood Lecture at Salve on October 12th
Christina Sharpe, author of “In the Wake: On Blackness and Being, will discuss her book when she presents the Atwood Lecture on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at Salve Regina University’s Bazarsky Lecture Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public. In her book, Sharpe, a professor of English at Tufts University, […]