Laura Jean Denim is holding a denim drive Wednesday, May 25 through Wednesday, June 15 that will upcycle donated jeans into housing insulation. Participants that donate at least one pair of used jeans will receive a coupon for $20 off a new pair of jeans. All donated denim will be upcycled into UltraTouch™ Denim Insulation as […]
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
Island Moving Co. Dancers and Staff Invite Public to “From Kazakhstan With Love”
Island Moving Co. (IMC) dancers and staff invite the public to “From Kazakhstan With Love,” an informal opportunity to learn about the Company’s recently completed two week tour of three cities in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The gathering will be at the Jamestown Arts Center on Wednesday, May 18th beginning at 7pm. There will be photos and videos from the […]
Posted inThings To Do
Coast Guard Station Castle Hill Will Host Open House During National Safe Boating Week
The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to host multiple safe boating events in Southeastern New England as part of National Safe Boating Week, which runs from May 21-27. A precursor to the busy summer boating season, National Safe Boating Week promotes safe and responsible recreation at sea. Here in Newport, the U.S. Coast Guard Station Castle […]
Posted inThings To Do
Great Things To Do This Weekend in Newport: May 13 – 15
Discover the best events, activities and things to do during this weekend in and around Newport, RI. Wondering what’s happening for live music, comedy and entertainment this weekend? Listings are here – Where to Find Live Music, Comedy and Entertainment This Weekend in Newport: May 13 – May 15 (In chronological order) 1 – Live Improv Comedy with The […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Where to Find Live Music, Comedy and Entertainment This Weekend in Newport: May 13 – May 15
Discover the best entertainment, comedy and live music happening around Newport, RI this weekend. If you enjoy What’sUpNewp, please consider supporting those businesses in bold below! They sponsor us and make what we do possible. Friday Buskers: Live music with Live Music with Greg Burgess from 9pm to 1am. No Cover.Celtica: Karaoke at 10pm. No cover.Clarke Cooke House: DJ […]
Posted inNews
Look Who’s Talking About Newport: May 13, 2016
Newport Newswire is a daily look at where and why Newport is being mentioned locally and around the globe over the last 24 hours, 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. The Independent – The nitro effectComcast Sportsnet New […]
Posted inNews
Antiquated Explosive Device Discovered at Fort Adams State Park on Thursday
Newport Police Department, Newport Fire Department, State Bomb Squad and the U.S. Navy responded to Fort Adams State Park today when a visitor to the park discovered what’s believed to be an antiquated explosive device. At 1:28 p.m. today, Navy EOD was in the process of containing what they believe is some form of a land mine […]
Posted inThings To Do
Aquidneck Land Trust’s Trolley Tours Will Offer Four Opportunities to Explore Aquidneck Island This Summer
Hop aboard an old-fashioned trolley and discover the past, present and future of conservation on Aquidneck Island. Led by one of the Aquidneck Land Trust’s (ALT) expert staff members, the tours visit protected working farms, wildlife habitats, water resources, outdoor recreation areas and scenic vistas on the Island. The first tour of the season will […]
Posted inNews
Podcast #105: Sailors For The Sea Chats About Tiny Giants Exhibit and World Oceans Day
Today’s show included a discussion with Sailors For The Sea and a whole lot of updates on local news and the latest on what’s happening, new and to do in and around Newport, R.I. Shelley Brown, Education Director for Sailors For The Sea, joined me on The Open Forum from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. […]
Posted inNews
Obituary for Catherine Elsie Gray: July 17, 1940 – May 12, 2016
Catherine Elsie Gray, 75, of Middletown, died peacefully surrounded by her family on May 12, 2016 at Newport Hospital. Kay was born on July 17,1940, in Newport, RI, the daughter of the late Ernest J. and Catherine Elsie (Bucci) Arsenault. When Kay was just 16, her mother died and she left school to help raise […]
Posted inNews
Three Contestants from Newport Will Compete for Miss Rhode Island
When the Miss RI Pageant is held in Newport, for the first time in the competition’s history later this month, three contestants from Newport will take to the stage to compete for the title of Miss Rhode Island America. More on that here – New ‘Miss Rhode Island’ and ‘Miss Rhode Island Outstanding Teen’ Will be […]
Posted inNews
Performance Physical Therapy Opens Its Newest Location in Middletown
Performance Physical Therapy’s newest location at 66 Valley Street, inside the popular Newport Athletic Club is now open for business! Performance Physical Therapy, a Rhode Island based state-of-the-art, physical therapist-owned practice, has announced that they have opened their 10th clinic at Newport Athletic Club. Performance Physical Therapy and Newport Athletic Club have partnered to create a unique […]
Posted inCity & Government
Representative Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport) Seeks Further Information About Recently Launched Statewide Tourism Campaign
Representative Lauren H. Carson (D-District 75, Newport), as chairwoman of a House commission studying the potential for growing tourism through a coordinated marketing effort, has sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor thanking him for recently meeting with the commission and seeking further information about the recently launched statewide tourism campaign. Representative Carson requested […]
Posted inNews
Robert Redford Sends Open Letter to City Of Newport
Upon completion of principal photography of filming for “The Discovery “in and around Newport over the last two months, Robert Redford has shared his thanks and gratitude with the City of Newport and its residents through an open letter. May 6, 2016I have had the privilege of working on two films in Newport the first time […]
Posted inCity & Government
State Looks to Raise Meal and Beverage Tax in Newport and Middletown
Dining in Newport and Middletown may soon cost restaurants or customers 1% more than it does anywhere else in Rhode Island. On May 10th, Senator Louis P. DiPalma introduced Senate Bill #2987, a bill that would authorize Newport and Middletown to collect an additional one percent meal and beverage tax to fund road and sewer […]
Posted inNews
Newport Newswire: May 12, 2016
Newport Newswire is a daily look at where and why Newport is being mentioned locally and around the globe. For the latest news from What’sUpNewp, check out All The News. Delaware Online – Fate of presidential yacht debated in Delaware courtPatch – Carson Keeps Plugging Away at Review of Botched Tourism …Patch – Historic William Street Home Sells […]
Posted inCity & Government
Representative Abney Fails to Include Wife’s Board Position on Newport Housing Authority, Corrects Ethics Filing
Just a week after being appointed the House Finance Committee Chairman, Providence Journal reports that Representative Marvin Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown) has had to correct his latest ethic filings after failing to disclose his wife’s position on the Board of the Newport Housing Authority, an organization that has received/receives grants from the Rhode Island General […]
Posted inNews
Six-Year-Old Tiverton Boy to Receive Lifesaver Award at Rhode Island State Police’s Memorial Ceremony
The Rhode Island State Police will hold its 25th Annual Memorial Ceremony on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at State Police Headquarters in North Scituate. The ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Headquarters Building. In 1962 President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15th as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day and […]
Posted inCity & Government
Public Workshop to be Held for Thames/Spring Streetscape Improvements Project
Newport’s Department of Public Services Announces Public Workshop for Thames/Spring Streetscape Improvements Project – May 24, 2016, 5:30 to 7:30 PM, Edward King House The City of Newport has embarked on a major initiative to plan for the future of Thames and Spring Streets. These streets serve as vital corridors for transporting people, goods, and services and provide […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Portsmouth Abbey Girls’ Sailing Team Wins N.E. High School Championship
The Portsmouth Abbey Girls’ Sailing Team won the Rebecca Herreshoff Trophy, also known as the New England High School Women’s Championship, on May 8, besting 15 other teams from around the region at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, in Buzzards Bay, MA. The Abbey girls competed in two divisions, with each division sailing eight races in […]
Posted inNews
Captain Richard Bailey Departs Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island, Joins Schooner ‘Spirit of South Carolina’
Captain Richard Bailey, who joined Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island as a board member in 1998 and later served as the founding ship captain, has departed the organization to join the schooner Spirit of South Carolina. His new command, though based in Charleston, South Carolina, is a frequent visitor to Newport and New England waters. Spirit […]
Posted inNews
Newport Newswire: May 11, 2016
A look at where and why Newport is being mentioned today, locally and around the globe; Note: This is very much a live blog, this story will be updated throughout the day when/if more stories come out regarding Newport. Rhode Island Monthly – Rhode Island Journalists Honored for Diverse ReportingButler Eagle – Researchers hope to find Cook’s […]
Posted inNews
Greenhouse and Garden Estate Sale to be Held at Richard Saul Wurman’s “The Orchard”
Trésor Estate Sales of Newport announces a two-weekend sale at the splendid French-style chateau, “The Orchard,” home of TED creator, Richard Saul Wurman and best-selling novelist, Gloria Nagy. The Greenhouse and Garden Sale is on Saturday, May 14, 9am- 3pm; the Carriage House Contents Sale is on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday May 22, 9am […]
Posted inNews
Historic Jamestown Home That Was Once Owned by Joseph Wharton Has Hit The Market
Lila Delman Real Estate International has listed Beavertail Farm House, the historic farmhouse once owned by Philadelphia industrialist Joseph Wharton. Wharton, who established the world’s first collegiate school of business at the University of Pennsylvania, had roots in Jamestown, summering there with his extended family for many decades. The home was designed by well-known […]
Posted inNews
Special Legislative Commission Will Hold Meeting at Air National Guard Base at Quonset to Highlight Base’s Importance to R.I. Economy
The Special Legislative Commission on Defense Economy Planning will be holding a special meeting on May 11 at 1 p.m. at the Quonset Air National Guard base to introduce the results of the RI National Guard’s economic impact study in conjunction with the National Guard Civic Leader Program. The National Guard Civic Leader Program creates partnerships, inspires […]