Discover all that’s happening, new and to do in and around Newport this first weekend of fall. You Might Also Like – Live music and entertainment listings: Sept. 22 – 24 Friday, September 22nd Island Moving Company’s Open For Dancing 2017 Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival 5 pm – Menashe at Jane Pickens Theater 7 pm […]
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
Love oysters? Ocean State Oyster Festival is worth the trip to Providence this weekend
Despite being the smallest state in the union, Rhode Island has an awful lot to brag about. The fantastic beaches, a stellar music and art community, some of the best restaurants in New England (which tasted alot like the food in the restaurants in Bozeman MT) and you can’t forget the pizza. Another thing that […]
Posted inNews
What To Watch For: September 27th Newport City Council Meeting
The Newport City Council will next meet on Wednesday, September 27th at 6:30 pm in the Council Chamber at Newport City Hall, here’s what they will review, vote on and discuss. The meeting is open to the general public and there is an opportunity for the public to speak (on a topic not already on […]
Posted inNews
RI General Assembly approves bill to bring 5G wireless to RI
STATE HOUSE – The General Assembly this week gave its approval to legislation sponsored by Rep. Stephen R. Ucci and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma to pave the way for Rhode Island to become an early adopter of 5th generation mobile networks (5G) – the next generation of wireless networks, the Legislative Press and Public Information Burea […]
Posted inNews
Now Hiring: Mokka Coffeehouse – Barista, Counter Server and Short Order Cook
Mokka Coffeehouse is now hiring experienced year-round staff for their busy coffee shop and retail store. Mokka offers great working conditions, competitive wages, and flexible schedules. Must be able to be at work early in the morning, available most weekends and have some food service and customer service experience. This is a great opportunity for […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Live music and entertainment listings: Sept. 22 – 24
Discover where to find live music, karaoke, comedy, dancing and entertainment this weekend in and around Newport! YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE –25+ things to do this weekend: Sept. 22 – 24 *Unless otherwise noted, the venue is located in Newport. Friday, September 22 Buskers: Pat Cottrell at 9 pmCeltica: Karaoke at 10 pmClarke Cooke House: DJ & Dancing in the Boom […]
Posted inCity & Government, Environment & Health
Naval War College to mark World War I centennial with Army-Navy baseball game
NEWPORT, R.I. — U.S. Naval War College (NWC) will honor the centenary of America’s involvement in World War I (WWI) by recreating an Army vs. Navy baseball game played 100 years ago, on Friday Sept. 29 at Cardines Field in downtown Newport. Players will wear historically accurate uniforms created specifically for the event, which will […]
Posted inNews
Southern Yacht Club rebounds from devastating fire with win at Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup
NEW YORK (September 21, 2017) — The pinnacle event of the Rolex Yachting calendar in the U.S. wrapped up last Saturday with the Southern Yacht Club putting forth a commanding effort to win the 2017 Rolex New York Yacht Club Invitational Cup. The fifth biennial regatta was an ode to exhaustive preparation beforehand and precision teamwork […]
Posted inCity & Government
Eco-Depot headed to Easton’s Beach on September 30
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (Resource Recovery) in conjunction with Clean City Newport will host a collection of household hazardous waste (HHW) on Saturday, September 30 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Easton’s Beach located at 175 Memorial Blvd. This event is available free of charge to Rhode Island residents. To help reduce time spent in line, appointments should be […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Art Museum to present “Pictures & Windows: The Paintings of Christopher W. Benson from 1975 to 2017”
The Newport Art Museum has announced that they will present a retrospective of Christopher W. Benson’s work, on display September 29 – December 31, 2017 in the Museum’s Cushing Building located at 76 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI. The exhibition illustrates the evolution of Benson’s style over the course of his forty year career as a painter. Raised in […]
Posted inThings To Do
MLK Community Center to host Fall Food Expo
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center has announced that it will be hosting a Fall Food Expo on October 6, 2017. This free event is in partnership with Jamestown Community Farm with funding from an AARP Community Challenge Grant and will be held at the MLK Community Center, 20 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd., […]
Posted inBusiness, Style & Shop
Newport Holiday Stroll set to return for first two weekends in December
The 2nd Annual Newport Holiday Stroll is set to take place Friday, December 1st – Sunday, December 3rd and Friday, December 8th – Sunday, December 10th. Following a successful inaugural event in 2016, the Newport Holiday Stroll is looking to add more “holiday cheer and reason to shop, dine and be here” to The-City-By-The-Sea in […]
Posted inNews
Latest on Hurricane Jose (Updated)
A Tropical Storm Warning for Newport has been issued by the National Weather Service for Newport. The Newport Police Department issued a press release on Monday reminding residents that Jose will likely bring high surf and dangerous rip currents to local beaches through much of this week. There are no lifeguards on duty at any […]
Posted inNews
212 Aquidneck Islanders will take on Amica Newport Marathon and Half Marathon
The Amica Newport Marathon & Half Marathon will have 3,500 runners on the starting line from around the country and across the globe. At press time, 212 of those registered for the October 8th road race call Newport, Middletown or Portsmouth home. Runners will line up on the starting line in the early hours of October 8th to tackle the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Police warn of an impersonating Police Officer scam
The Newport Police Department has provided What’sUpNewp the following information in regards to an impersonating a Police Officer scam the Newport Police Department is currently investigating. On September 19, 2017, at about 4:30 p.m., a local woman received a phone call from a male party identifying himself as “Sgt. David Chapman of the Newport County […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Newport International Boat Show announces Edson Star Award winners
Newport Exhibition Group, owners and producers of the Newport International Boat Show, announced today the results of this year’s Edson Star Awards for Excellence in Portraying Company Image. Presented by Will Keene, chairman of Edson International, and given to companies whose display and employees exemplify pride and professionalism, the awards were presented to four category […]
Posted inThings To Do
Preservation Society announces free Breakers landscape lecture series
This fall, The Preservation Society of Newport County will present a series of three lectures on “The Evolution of The Breakers Landscape,” sponsored by ALEX AND ANI. Admission to all lectures is free, but advance registration is required, online at www.NewportMansions.org/Learn/Lectures, or by calling 401-847-1851. Wednesday, October 11, 2017 11:00 a.m. Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Avenue, Newport Ernest Bowditch: […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Pedal power takes riders across 4 Rhode Island bridges
Pea-Soup fog did little to deter the 950 cyclists that pedaled over four of Rhode Island’s bridges on Sunday during the fifth annual 4 Bridges Ride. The ride, sponsored by the Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority Foundation, benefits Save the Bay. The event is produced by Gray Matter Marketing. Riders began the journey at 7 AM from North […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Newport sailing team Bella Mente Racing wraps up 2017 race campaign
After a week of fighting tooth and nail against Maxi 72 rivals, Bella Mente Racing wrapped up the Rolex Maxi 72 World Championships in Porto Cervo, Sardinia earlier this month, taking third place overall. The regatta is the team’s pinnacle event each year and concludes its 2017 campaign. “Thanks to the Bella Mente Racing team […]
Posted inCity & Government
Coast Guard readies for Jose, cautions mariners
Coast Guard units across the Northeast are accelerating preparations Monday ahead of forecasted tropical storm conditions expected to arrive in our area late Tuesday into Wednesday. Forecasted marine and coastal effects, including 34-63 knot winds and 20-30 foot seas, could pose life-threatening conditions for mariners. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod crews are […]
Posted inNews
Clean Ocean Access hosts first fall beach cleanup, Pheasant Drive Beach next
Clean Ocean Access (COA) hosted a beach cleanup at Easton’s Beach in Newport on Saturday, Sept. 16 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Despite the weather on this particularly cloudy day, over 100 volunteers of all ages participated in the coastal cleanup and removed 143 pounds of marine debris from the shoreline, dunes, and surrounding […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island Defense Economy Commission to meet in Middletown on September 20th
The Rhode Island Defense Economy Planning Commission will meet at a Middletown information technology company this week for updates from the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA), the Department of Labor and Training and Electric Boat. The commission is co-chaired by Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) and Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Start of Newport Pell Bridge Roadway Deck Project delayed to Thursday, September 21st
Due to expected heavy rain and winds from Hurricane Jose, The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) announced on Monday that they will delay the start date of the roadway deck repair project on the Newport Pell Bridge. The project was planned to start on Tuesday, September, 19th, however with the expected forecast, it will now […]
Posted inJobs
Now Hiring: 90+ local businesses (Sept. 18)
Time for a new part-time gig, new full-time job or a new career? Start your job search right here, there are nearly 100 businesses hiring right now in Newport. Featured Jobs 12 Meter Charters – Crew Member Position For 70 Foot Charter Sailing YachtAdmiral Fitzroy Inn – Now Hiring: Admiral Fitzroy Inn – Overnight InnsitterClassic Cruises of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Live music and entertainment listings: September 18 – 22
A look at where to find live music, comedy, movies, karaoke and more this week. Monday, September 18 4:45 pm – Maudie at Jane Pickens Theater6 pm to 9 pm – Julio Amaro at Perro Salado7 pm to 10 pm – The Groove Merchants at Fifth Element7:30 pm – Trip To Spain at Jane Pickens Theater9 pm […]