The Junior Company of Newport’s Island Moving Co. will present the charming new work, “Carnival of the Animals” at the Island Moving Co. studio on Sunday, February 14th at 2:30 and 3:30pm. The Island Moving Co. studios are on the second floor at 3 Charles Street off Washington Square in Newport, RI. The performances are part […]
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, News
Promoting Green Sector Job Growth Was Topic of Paiva Weed’s Roundtable Discussion on Tuesday
Promoting green sector job growth topic of Senate action plan, roundtable discussion President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed today hosted a roundtable discussion of a legislative action plan and corresponding legislation intended to promote job growth in green industries in Rhode Island. Entitled “Grow Green Jobs RI,” the action plan focuses on a wide spectrum […]
Posted inNews
Local Church Will Host “Night to Shine” Prom for People with Special Needs on February 12th
Night To Shine, Sponsored By The Time Tebow Foundation, Is Coming To Newport, RI on February 12, 2016 Crosspoint Church announced today that they will serve as one of the more than 100 churches around the world that will host Night to Shine sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation simultaneously on Friday, February 12, 2016. […]
Posted inNews
344 People Register at Monday’s Bone Marrow Drive For Local School Principal and Secretary
(Photo of Mr. Jaime Crowley) The bone marrow drive at Pell Elementary School on Monday is being called a huge success by the Rhode Island Blood Center, a Be The Match Partner. “I just wanted to thank you again for having me on the show (The Open Forum on 1540 AM) yesterday. To follow up, […]
Posted inCity & Government
What To Watch For: Newport City Council’s January 27th Meeting
The Newport City Council will host their regularly scheduled meeting on January 27th at 6:30 p.m.at the Pell Elementary School Cafetorium, 35 Dexter Street. Heading to the public meeting? Here’s a quick round-up of some of the more interesting items that will be reviewed, discussed and introduced – the full agenda for the meeting is here. Can’t make […]
Posted inNews
PODCAST: Conversation with Scott Wheeler, Buildings and Grounds Supervisor for City Of Newport
(Photo of Ballard Park via Friends of Ballard Park) Scott Wheeler, Building and Grounds Supervisor/Tree Warden for City of Newport, stopped by The Open Forum on Tuesday, January 26th to discuss Newport Open Space Partnership, Newport Arboretum, the ongoing project to install an elevator at Newport City Hall and much more. Wheeler joined me from […]
Posted inArts & Culture, News
Newport Folk Festival Rolls Out Fan-To-Fan Ticket Exchange
Back in December after seeing tickets quickly go up on 3rd party sites just minutes after tickets went on sale, Newport Folk Festival announced that they would be exploring the possibility of a direct fan to fan way of selling and exchanging tickets. Related Post: Newport Folk Festival and Scalping: Here’s What You All Need To […]
Posted inFood & Drink, News
Newport Distilling Company Adds Widows Walk To Their Portfolio, An Overproof White Rum
Since its inception in 2006, the Newport Distilling Company (NDC) has sought to revive the tradition of crafting rum in the state of Rhode Island. In the early 1700s Newport was considered to be the rum capital of the world with close to two dozen distilleries operating on the Newport Harbor front. By 1872 the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams Will Perform at Channing Memorial Church
Photo by Tom Moore Common Fence Music at Channing Church will present The Slambovian Circus of Dreams on St. Valentine’s Eve, Saturday, February 13 at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The band is a Common Fence Music favorite and returns for a fifth visit on this night for lovers of all ages. The performance will take place in […]
Posted inNews
Stage Crew Manager for Newport Folk & Jazz Festivals Tied to Alleged Abuse at St. George’s
New Sexual Abuse Allegations at St. George’s Include Newport Festivals Foundation’s Stage Crew Manager St. George’s first found themselves on the front cover of the Boston Globe back on December 15th in a story written by Bella English that included former students from the 1970’s that alleged they were sexually abused. Latest: Boston Globe‘s Coverage of St. George’s School Sex […]
Posted inFood & Drink, News
Sale of Willy’s Burger Bar and Rotisserie Now Under Binding Contract
Back on November 7th, 2015; What’sUpNewp reported that Willy’s Burger Bar and Rotisserie had been put on the market for $1.2 million. What’sUpNewp has confirmed that a binding contract has been signed for the property, subject to meeting certain contingency conditions, the seller is soliciting back up offers. The Newport Blast reported on January 14th that the property had […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Paiva Weed Will Host ‘Grow Green Jobs RI’ Discussion on Tuesday
President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed (D-13, Newport & Jamestown) will host a roundtable discussion of the Senate’s new Legislative Action Plan entitled “Grow Green Jobs RI” and related legislation on Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the State House in the Senate Lounge. Among those expected to participate […]
Posted inNews
PODCAST: Discussion with RI Blood Center and Portsmouth Prevention Coalition
It was a fast paced Monday edition of The Open Forum on 1540 AM WADK Newport today. I was immediately joined by the Rhode Island Blood Center, a Be The Match partner, to discuss the Bone Marrow Drive happening at the Pell School earlier today. Bonnie Gomes, President of 3G Broadcasting, then joined me to […]
Posted inNews
Newport Police Identify Man Who Is Wanted For Felony Assault on Bliss Road
Newport Police have been investigating an assault that took place at 1:38 a.m. on Saturday, January 16th on Bliss Road near Wilbur Avenue. As a result of the assault a 28 year old Newport man sustained serious head injuries and remains hospitalized. More Info The Assault: UPDATE: Newport Man in Coma Following Assault on Bliss Road on […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
Andy Roddick and James Blake Will Play Tennis in Newport, RI
As What’sUpNewp first reported, Newport Will Welcome PowerShares Series Tennis Event in July. The PowerShares Series, the tennis circuit for champion players over the age of 30, announced its slate of player fields for its 12-city circuit that begins April 8 in Chicago. Competing players in 2016 are Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, […]
Posted inNews
Aquidneck Land Trust Conserves Arnow Property in Middletown and Wild Moor Property in Newport
Aquidneck Land Trust Conserves Unique Properties in Middletown and Newport Middletown, R.I. – The Aquidneck Land Trust (“ALT”) has announced conservation of two properties: a 12.5 acre property known as the Arnow property in Middletown and the 14.75 acre Wild Moor property off of Hammersmith Road in Newport. The Arnow property is located off of Howland […]
Posted inNews
Cluny School to Open Its Doors on 31 January and 3 February for National Catholic Schools Week
(Photo: Tiffanie Groth, Charlotte Rochelle and Mayer Bansal, Cluny School Kindergarten) The Cluny School will celebrate National Catholic Schools Week with an Open House on Sunday, 31 Januaryfrom 11am- 1pm and Wednesday, 3 February from 10am- 12 noon. Prospective parents and students are invited to tour the upper and lower school, mingle with current students and their parents, meet the principal and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Wild Ponies Performance at Common Fence Music Has Been Postponed
The Wild Ponies performance originally schedule at Common Fence Music, 933 Anthony Road for February 6, 2016 at 8 pm has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. Doug and Telisha Williams, Virginia alternate-country singer songwriters appeared at Common Fence Music in April 2012 and were enthusiastically received. They have since added a bass player and now appear […]
Posted inThings To Do
10 Great Things To Do This Week in Newport (Jan. 25 – 29)
(Photo via Morgan Macia/Macia Photography) Discover the best events, activities and things to do in and around Newport, RI this week! FYI – MANY Newport restaurants will be taking some time off this week, visit When Newport Restaurants Are Open and Closed This Winter for full details. Have something you would like to add to this story? […]
Posted inCity & Government
What Bills Aquidneck Island’s Legislators Introduced & Sponsored Last Week (Jan. 18 – 22)
The Rhode Island General Assembly has just completed the first three weeks of the 2016 session. Aquidneck Island’s seven State Representatives and have been quite busy introducing dozens of bills that range form topics such as charter schools, cell phone use, animals and more. ICYMI: Aquidneck Island’s Legislators Sponsor Dozens of Bills in First Two Weeks of […]
Posted inJobs
Now Hiring: Sephora, Bike Newport, Five Below and More
Are you looking for a job? Here’s our Sunday roundup of job opportunities in and around Newport, RI that have recently been advertised or posted someone out there on the world wide web. Here are 10 current job opportunities in and/or around Newport, RI. Sephora is looking to fill 11 different positions for their new location […]
Posted inThings To Do
5 Best Things To Do In Newport Today (Jan. 24)
(Photo of sledding at Fort Adams via Sail Newport Facebook Page) Happy Sunday! Hope you all faired well throughout the wicked snow storm over the last 24 hours! Things and business should be back to normal today, we have a full list going on here of any updates that we receive regarding business and restaurant […]
Posted inNews
Experience Winter Storm Jonas With These Snowy Newport Photos
(Featured Photo by Madeline Berry) Winter Storm Jonas (yes, we know it’s a Weather Channel name. It’s just easier to call it that then the “snow storm that hit Newport, RI on January 23 and 24th, 2016”) made landfall in Newport, RI around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 23rd. While it’s had an impact business […]
Posted inNews, Style & Shop
Portsmouth, RI Fashion Designer to Show in New York Fashion Week
Chaz Aracil, recent Rhode Island School of Design Alumni and Portsmouth local will showcase at Art Hearts Fashion at New York Fashion Week. The presentation takes place in New York City this upcoming February at the Angel Orensanz Foundation. New York Fashion Week is a semi-annual series of events where fashion collections are shown to […]
Posted inNews
Coast Guard Responds To Disabled RI Fishing Vessel Off of Block Island on Saturday
It’s been a busy and dangerous day for local U.S. Coast Guard crews as they had to respond to a disabled Rhode Island ahead and during winter storm. Update from US Coast Guard Station Castle Hill: “Today the crew faced 50 mph winds, up to 14 foot seas and minimal visibility in the blowing snow […]