This is a daily look at where and why Newport is being mentioned locally and around the globe over the last 24 hours or so, for the latest news from What’sUpNewp, check out All The News. This story will be updated throughout the day to include new mentions and news. Rhode Island Public Radio – Newport Considers Plastic […]
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 inCity & Government
House OKs Legislation to Allow Limited Retail Sales by Breweries
Bill is designed to help small businesses, promote ‘beer tourism’ industry in Rhode Island Legislation cosponsored by Rep. Teresa Tanzi to allow breweries, distilleries and wineries to sell limited amounts of their products to visitors for sampling and off-site consumption has passed the House of Representatives. In photo: Representatives Teresa Tanzi, second from left, and […]
Posted inNews
Newport Polo Partners With USOC, Will Host Olympic Day Interscholastic Team Tryouts
Portsmouth, RI (May 27, 2016) – The spirit of the Olympic Movement will roll into Portsmouth as Newport Polo hosts preseason tryouts for its Interscholastic Polo Team, in celebration of Olympic Day. Newport Polo will host official Olympic Day events every Friday at 4pm in June, with Preseason & Tryouts for new players to join its nationally recognized Interscholastic Polo program. Boys & girls […]
Posted inThings To Do
Newport Mansions Season in Full Swing: New Tours, New Exhibition and New Mobile App Unveiled
All ten historic houses museums of The Preservation Society of Newport County, Newport, Rhode Island, are now open daily for public tours, and visitors will be able to enjoy new audio tours of The Elms and Rosecliff, a new exhibition at Rosecliff, and a variety of special events ranging from the Newport Flower Show, to […]
Posted inNews
Podcast #115: Vice President, Meals & Beverage Tax and World Match Racing Tour
Listen To The Open Forum with Ryan Belmore Every Weekday on WADK 1540 AM from 12:30pm to 2pm It was a busy Friday edition of The Open Forum, to start the show we brought you live audio of Vice President Joe Biden speaking in East Providence, Rhode Island about RhodeWorks. Following what was a longer than […]
Posted inNews
Baghdatis, Kokkinakis, Karlovic, Ram, and Johnson to Compete in Tennis Hall of Fame Championships
Marcos Baghdatis,Thanasi Kokkinakis, Ivo Karlovic, Steve Johnson, and Defending Champion Rajeev Ram to compete in Hall of Fame Tennis Championships NEWPORT, R.I., – When the ATP World Tour comes to Newport, R.I. in July for the first stop of the summer season in the United States, the player field will feature a Grand Slam tournament […]
Posted inFood & Drink, News
Update on Bill That Would Raise Meals, Beverage Tax to 9 percent in Newport and Middletown
As What’sUpNewp first reported, dining in Newport and Middletown may soon cost more than anywhere else in Rhode Island and now NBC 10 reports that the proposed rate increase would be higher than New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Senate Bill S2987 which would increase the meals & beverage tax by 1% (to a total […]
Posted inNews
31 Open Houses on Aquidneck Island This Memorial Day Weekend: May 27 – 29
Here’s our weekly roundup of open houses taking place on Aquidneck Island over the weekend, happy home shopping! Need real estate help or a reliable agent? E-mail us at Ryan@whatsupnewp.com, we’d be happy to put you in touch with a preferred and reliable real estate agent that can fulfill your needs. The following information has […]
Posted inNews
Look Who’s Talking About Newport: May 27, 2016
This is a daily look at where and why Newport is being mentioned locally and around the globe over the last 24 hours or so, for the latest news from What’sUpNewp, check out All The News. This story will be updated throughout the day to include new mentions and news. CBS Local – Tour Bus Engulfed In Flames […]
Posted inNews
Three Salve Regina ROTC Cadets Commissioned to U.S. Army as Second Lieutenants
Seventeen cadets from the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) Cramer’s Sabers Battalion – including three from Salve Regina – were officially commissioned into the U.S. Army as second lieutenants during a ceremony held May 20. The battalion also includes cadets from Roger Williams University and the University of Rhode Island, according to Salve Today. The […]
Posted inNews
Obituary for Margaret W. Rogers: March 10, 1925 – May 15, 2016
Newport, RI – Margaret W. (Moitoza) Rogers, 91, formerly of Portsmouth, RI, passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at Heatherwood Nursing & Subacute Center in Newport. She was the wife of the late Joseph Rogers. Margaret was a former Manager with Verizon before retiring. She is survived by two brothers, Joseph and Thomas Moitoza, […]
Posted inNews
Obituary for Robert P. Marks: July 3, 1946 – May 23, 2016
Robert P. Marks, 69, of Newport, died Monday, May 23, 2016 at Newport Hospital. Robert was born July 3, 1946 in Newport, the son of the late Carl F. and the late Catherine (Cox) Marks. Robert grew up in Newport and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1966. He served during the Vietnam War and […]
Posted inNews
Obituary for Gilda DeCosta: December 17, 1927 – May 25, 2016
Gilda DeCosta, 88, of School House Lane, Portsmouth, RI, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at home. She was the wife of the late Theodore E. DeCosta who was the love of her life. Born in Newport, RI on December 17, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Antone and Georgianna (Pacheco) […]
Posted inNews
Discover Newport Anticipates Summer Season Will be Robust and Prosperous
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, travelers share a palpable anticipation for the summer travel season ahead. Evan Smith, president and CEO of Discover Newport, points to many new businesses and events in addition to lodging renovations as just some key factors expected to enhance the visitor experience throughout Newport and its eight coastal communities. “In […]
Posted inNews
Podcast #114: City Council Members and Broadway Merchants Launch ‘Local Broadway District’
Earlier today, the City of Newport and the Broadway Merchants Association launched a new digital media and social media campaign aimed at helping the businesses on Broadway during the final few months of construction and throughout this summer. Read our story on the new initiative from earlier today – ‘Local Broadway District’ Digital and Social […]
Posted inCity & Government
City of Newport and Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport Sign Partnership Intermediary Agreement
The City of Newport and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport today signed the Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) to support economic development and job creation initiatives in Newport. This agreement, the first of its kind in Rhode Island, was signed by Newport Mayor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano and NUWC Newport Commanding Officer Captain Howard S. […]
Posted inNews
‘Local Broadway District’ Digital and Social Media Campaign Launched
The Broadway District, it’s “where the locals go”. That’s what the City Of Newport’s new campaign for The Broadway District will use to promote the businesses on Broadway and how they hope to encourage locals and visitors to visit Broadway this summer while construction continues on the Broadway Streetscape Project. In Newport, Rhode Island there is one […]
Posted inNews
Look Who’s Talking About Newport: May 26, 2016
This is a daily look at where and why Newport is being mentioned locally and around the globe over the last 24 hours or so, for the latest news from What’sUpNewp, check out All The News. This story will be updated throughout the day to include new mentions and news. Hartford Courant – The Rhode Island Toppa Family […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council Votes 6-1 in Support of Resolution That Would Phase Out Use of Plastic Bags
Six Newport City Council members voted in favor of supporting a resolution that will construct an ordinance to phase out the use of disposable plastic bags in Newport on Wednesday night, reports Newport Patch and Newport This Week. The “Single Use Plastics” Resolution, which was introduced by Councilor’s John Florez, Naomi Neville and Lynn Ceglie, calls on […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Boat House Restaurant Lands on OpenTable’s List of ‘100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America’
OpenTable has released their 100 Best Al Fresco Dining list for 2016, the annual lists highlights restaurants that offer stunning views, regional cuisine and, above all, fabulous outdoor dining experiences. The list of honorees is determined after analyzing more than five million reviews of more than 20,000 restaurants across the nation – all submitted by […]
Posted inNews
IYRS Receives State Funding to Build Mobile Maker Lab in Collaboration with Rhode Island College and POLARIS MEP
IYRS School of Technology & Trades has been awarded an Industry Cluster Grant from the State of Rhode Island in the amount of $75,290 in order to begin the development of a “Mobile Maker Lab.” The traveling lab, a trailer equipped with high-tech maker tools, will visit high schools and prisons, providing short-term hands-on courses […]
Posted inNews
Newport Public Schools’ Will Host 27th Annual Museum Tour/Tennis Clinic on Thursday
On Thursday, May 26, Newport Public Schools’ Elementary andThompson Middle School Physical Education Department will hold it’s 27th annual Museum Tour/Tennis Clinic at the International Tennis Hall Of Fame and Museum. “We are very fortunate, through collaboration with the International Tennis Hall of Fame, to hold this event at the world famous Tennis Hall of Fame […]
Posted inNews
Podcast #113: Local and Statewide Politics with Frank Prosnitz
Frank Prosnitz, a former Reporter for the Providence Journal and Providence Business News, joined me on The Open Forum on Wednesday to discuss local politics, statewide politics and much more. Among the topics that were discussed were how many members of the Rhode Island General Assembly “called out” journalists, the Providence Journal and WPRI on […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Locals Vying for Three Remaining Slots at World Match Racing Tour Newport
Eight teams, two of them with Rhode Island skippers and crews, will be sailing this Thursday through Saturday at Sail Newport in the Newport Match Race, a qualifier event to see who will win the three remaining berths of 20 available at next week’s World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) Newport. The WMRT Newport’s main event officially kicks off on Memorial Day, but there […]
Posted inThings To Do
Irish Museum Interpretive Center Will Open for 2016 Season on May 28th
The Museum of Newport Irish History Interpretive Center will open for the 2016 Season on Saturday, May 28. Visitors to the Center will learn about Irish immigration to Newport County from the 1600s to the present and of the many contributions made to our community by individuals of Irish descent. The exhibits include maps, photographs, video, and artifacts, […]