Pictured: The Newport Reading Room There are a number of Newport restaurants are hard to get into, not because they are too busy or “too cool for school” but because they require referrals or special memberships to enter. As you’ll see, some of these private establishments make their membership requirements and information about them very public, […]
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 inThings To Do
The 16 Best Things To Do In and Around Newport This November
Where o’ where has the year gone? While curating this list of the best things that will be happening in November in and around Newport, RI it hit us hard that Christmas is just around the corner! Actually, many Christmas and holiday activities get underway at some point during November! We hope this list will […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Democratic City Committe: Vote for Democratic Team, You Will be Well-Served
The Newport Democratic City Committee has released the following Letter To The Editor endorsing democratic in national and local races. The views and opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of What’sUpNewp, our writers or our advertisers. Every election, for as long as I can remember, candidates say that this is the most important election […]
Posted inNews
10 Most Popular Stories from October 2016
Wondering what the talk of the town was around Newport in October? While covering dozens of events and posting hundreds of stories in the month of October, it’s the news that’s unexpected, original and breaking news that saw the most traffic on www.whatsupnewp.com. More than 50,000 unique visitors made these posts the top 10 most-read stories in […]
Posted inNews
Emergency Shellfishing closure lifted for Rhode Island waters
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced today that effective at sunrise on Saturday, October 29, the emergency shellfishing closure for Rhode Island waters will be lifted. The closure was due to a harmful algae bloom that has now subsided. All conditional harvesting areas, with the exception of Area B, remain closed due […]
Posted inCity & Government
City of Newport Hazard Mitigation Plan Approved by FEMA Pending Adoption
The City of Newport has announced that FEMA Region I has completed its review of the Newport, Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and found it approvable pending adoption by the Newport City Council. With this approval, the jurisdiction meets the local mitigation planning requirements under 44 CFR 201 pending the receipt by FEMA of the adoption documentation and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Flex Tickets for 2017 Newport Jazz Festival Will Go On Sale on November 2nd
It’s Halloween, but don’t be afraid to make plans now for the 2017 Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Global Asset Management (NJF), which is set for August 4-6 at Fort Adams State Park. Newport Jazz Flex tickets are back, and jazz fans around the world are invited to be among the first to purchase […]
Posted inCity & Government
What do Newport City Council Candidates Think are Newport’s Three Biggest Challenges?
When Newport voters go the polls on November 8th, they will see that they have the option to choose four out of seven candidates (or write-in their own candidate) to fill the four At-Large seats on the Newport City Council. It should be noted that one of those candidates, Kimberly L. Shute, has dropped out of the […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s Up For This Week In Newport: Oct. 31 – Nov 4.
Discover what’s happening, new and to do in and around Newport, RI this week. Wondering where to find karaoke, trivia, live music, dancing, comedy or some other form of fun entertainment this week in Newport, RI? Scroll down for live music and entertainment listings. Monday, October 31 4 p.m. – A Man Called Ove at […]
Posted inJobs
Companies Hiring Right Now in Newport (Oct. 31)
Looking for a job in or near Newport, RI? Whether you’re looking for a part-time job, seasonal gig or new full-time career, chances are that someone is looking for you out there. Have a job posting you would like to add to this list and have featured? You can add a listing here. Featured From […]
Posted inNews
Coast Guard, Local Authorities Rescue Man Off of Jamestown Coast
The Coast Guard and Jamestown Police Department rescued a 60-year-old man Sunday off Fort Wetherill, Rhode Island after he fell off his sailboat. At approximately 12:20 a.m., Coast Guard Station Castle Hill received a call from Jamestown Police reporting a man in the water who had been clinging to his boat for about two hours. […]
Posted inStyle & Shop
Local Business Owners to Host Inaugural Newport Holiday Stroll in December
Newport Holiday Stroll will offer free parking, complimentary gift wrapping, uniformed store hours, special events, in-store offers, special events and discounts at local restaurants. Every dollar that you, we and I spend at an independent business returns three times more money to the local economy than one spent at a chain, that’s the thought process behind […]
Posted inNews
Metered Parking Season Will Come to a Close on Monday
Metered parking, which is in effect from May 1st through October 31st, will be free beginning on Tuesday, November 1st. Off-Season Metered Parking is in effect from November 1st through April 30th, 2016. There is no fee for parking at meters during this time but a 3-hour limit remains in effect until 6 p.m. daily. […]
Posted inNews
Photos: Hurricane Sandy Hits Newport, RI on October 29, 2012
Overall, Newport was mostly spared the wrath that was Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy on October 29th, 2012. The Cliff Walk and Ocean Drive were heavily damaged and portions of downtown Newport saw flooding like they had never seen before. A portion of The Cliff Walk was closed for nearly two years and reopened in June 2014 after a $5.2 million […]
Posted inThings To Do
Save The Bay to launch Newport Seal Tours on Nov. 11 out of Bowen’s Wharf
At 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 11 Save The Bay will kick off its Newport Seal Tour season out of Bowen’s Ferry Landing. As the boats cruise through historic Newport Harbor, guests will take in 360° views of seals resting on Citing Rock off of Rose Island and the Newport Bridge, offering up an equally […]
Posted inArts & Culture
newportFILM to Host Screening of “Marathon: The Patriots Day Bombing” on November 9th
Marathon: The Patriots Day Bombing recounts the dramatic story of the April 2013 terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon through the emotional experiences of individuals whose lives were forever impacted. newportFILM will host a screening of the film, which is Directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg, on November 9th at The Casino Theater in […]
Posted inNews
Fall Back and Light Up: Bicyclists are Reminded to be Visible at Night
As the clocks fall back, cyclists need to light up. Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 6th. As darkness arrives earlier, cyclists are reminded to take extra precaution riding at night. White lights on front, red lights on back, and plenty of reflectors and reflective clothing. The local advocacy group Bike Newport is chanting […]
Posted inNews
Cluny School to hold Open House on November 5th and 9th
Cluny School will hold two Open Houses on Saturday, 5 November from Noon to 2PM and on Wednesday, 9 November from 10am- Noon. All are welcome! Prospective parents are invited to tour the facility, meet the faculty and mingle with current students and their parents. Examples of student work will be on view in the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Representative Carson to be honored by R.I. Hospitality Association
The Rhode Island Hospitality Association is honoring Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D. Dist – 75, Newport) with its Hospitality Ambassador Award for her leadership in focusing the state’s tourism promotion efforts. The award is given annually to honor a person who has helped Rhode Island’s hospitality industry, and Representative Carson was chosen for her work establishing […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Foiling Kiteboarder Zach Marks Breaks Around Jamestown Record by 2 min 56 seconds
A new outright record was set Friday, October 28 for the Mount Gay Rum Around Jamestown Record. Zach Marks of St. Petersburg, Florida, rode his foiling kiteboard around Jamestown with an elapsed time of 53 minutes and 37 seconds. This bests the previous record of 00:56:33, held by Lloyd Thornburg’s Mod70 Phaedo3, by 2 minutes […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Opera House Invites You To Take Your Seat In Newport History
Be a part of the Opera House future, while “Taking your seat in Newport history!” Construction on the Newport Opera House Theater and Performing Arts Center is underway, the restoration of this cultural jewel will transform the historic structure into a modern, vibrant performing arts center and serve as an economic catalyst for Washington Square, […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s Up For This Weekend In Newport: Oct. 28 – 30
Discover what’s happening, new and to do this weekend in and around Newport, RI! Scroll down for the most thorough, complete and correct live music, comedy and entertainment listings you can find in Newport Friday, October 28th 4:30 p.m. – Denial at Jane Pickens Theater 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Fortress Of Nightmares at […]
Posted inNews
Local High School Students Can Apply for New $20,000 Scholarships from RI Foundation
Local high school students can now apply for college scholarships of up to $80,000 thanks to a new initiative from the Rhode Island Foundation that honors the state’s founding father. “Roger Williams was many things – a seeker, a champion of democracy, a naturalist, a reader, a writer, a traveler, and undoubtedly an entrepreneur. Thanks to […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport to Participate in National Tech Survey
Speak Up 2016 Asks about Technology Use in and Out of School, How Parents are Learning about Common Core State Standards and Bandwidth Capacity for Digital Content Through January 13th, more than 400,000 K-12 students, educators and parents worldwide will complete the Speak Up 2016 online survey and share their ideas about education and technology […]
Posted inCity & Government
VIDEO: October 26th Newport City Council Meeting
Miss last night’s marathon of a Newport City Council meeting? You’re in luck, here’s a 2 hour and 21 minute video from the evening. Don’t have more than 2 hours to watch the full thing? Here’s the biggest discussions, debates and important things you can fast forward to; 00:35 Comprehensive Plan Use Update6:00 – Adrenaline Sports Management application […]