Jane Pickens Theater and Events Center is planning a very special nostalgic and romantic evening with a screening of Sleepless In Seattle on Valentine’s Day. A screening of the 1993 romantic drama film will be shown at 7:00pm and tickets for this special Valentine’s Day screening are just $15. The $15 includes the “Sleepless Valentines Package”, this […]
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
UPDATE: Newport Public Schools Receive Another Anonymous Threat
UPDATE from Newport Police Department at 10:20 am At 0530 hours this morning an anonymous call was made to the Newport Police Department, in which a threat was made against the Newport Public schools. The Newport Police Department immediately began investigating this matter. The schools and the grounds were searched and there was no evidence […]
Posted inFood & Drink, News, Style & Shop
On The Move: Keeping Track of What Newport Businesses Are Opening, Closing and Relocating
It’s been a busy start to the new year for new and old Newport businesses, many are moving, some have retired and there’s a few new spots that you should know about. Without further ado, here’s a round-up of what’s new or happening around town since January 1st, 2016. We’ll keep this list going as more information […]
Posted inThings To Do
10 Events That You Shouldn’t Miss In Newport This February
(Photo of Ballard Park) Discover the best events, activities and things to do during February in and around Newport, RI. 1 – Hotel Viking Wine Festival – February 6 & 20, 2016: One Bellevue, the award winning restaurant at Hotel Viking in Newport has announced the Viking Wine Festival, a sequence of exceptional winemaker-hosted dinners […]
Posted inThings To Do
Registration Now Open For Summer Camp at Norman Bird Sanctuary
The Norman Bird Sanctuary anxiously awaits its 57th year of summer camp! During each eight week session campers will participate in fun-filled, hands-on nature exploration, animal encounters, and outdoor discovery. Age-appropriate and innovative camps offer a unique blend of hands-on learning, games, animal encounters and team building. Camp groups are held on 325 acres offering […]
Posted inNews
PODCAST: Interview with Organizers of Night To Shine
Bob Dyl, Night To Shine Coordinator, and Pastor Steve Robinson, from CrossPoint Church, joined me today on The Open Forum on 1540 AM WADK Newport to discuss Night To Shine, a prom night experience for those will special needs. Crosspoint Church recently announced that they will serve as one of the more than 100 churches around […]
Posted inNews
Rogers High School Receives Anonymous Threat
At 6:30pm on Sunday evening an anonymous call was made to the Principal of Rogers High School, in which a threat was made against the school. The Newport Police Department along with the Community Police Officer assigned to Rogers High School immediately began investigating this matter. The school and the grounds were searched and there was […]
Posted inJobs
Now Hiring In Newport: RITBA, Newport Harbor Hotel, City Of Newport and More…
JobsAre you looking for a job? Here’s our weekly 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. [the_ad id=”9856″] RITBA: Accounting Manager City Of Newport: Engineering TechnicianNewport Harbor Hotel: Food and […]
Posted inThings To Do
The 16 Most-Read Newport Stories in January of 2016
Here’s what Newport was reading, talking about and most interested in during January 0f 2016! 16 – Now Hiring: Sephora, Bike Newport, Five Below and More 15 – When Newport Restaurants Are Open and Closed This Winter 14 – Best Places To Go Sledding and Tubing on Aquidneck Island 13 – Middletown Fire on Scene of House Fire on Green […]
Posted inThings To Do
Best Things To Do This Week in Newport (Feb. 1 – 5)
Discover the best events, activities, live music, entertainment and things to do to do this week in and around Newport, RI. 1 – Free Ice Skating Monday from 5pm – 9pm ALEX AND ANI invites you to skate for FREE on Monday nights! 2 – Cocktails Wars Monday at 9pm The 3rd edition of Cocktail Wars, […]
Posted inArts & Culture, News
Ray LaMontagne Will Play 2016 Newport Folk Festival
The Newport Folk Festival has announced that singer-songwriter, Ray LaMontagne, will perform at their 2016 festival at Fort Adams State Park. LaMontagne, scheduled to perform on Friday, July 22nd, is the first artist to be announced for the 2016 lineup. Ten years ago LaMontagne released his first album, TROUBLE, the gold-certified start to a fiercely ambitious, […]
Posted inNews
Helpers Needed on Sunday for Clean Up of the Fort Adams Shoreline
Sail Newport will join forces with the R.I. Department of Environmental Management and fellow non-profit organization Clean Ocean Access to hold a clean-up of the Fort Adams State Park shoreline and beach on Sunday, January 31 at 11:00 a.m. Recent nor’easters have deposited a considerable amount of marine debris on the shores of the state […]
Posted inNews
PODCAST: Interview with Representative Lauren Carson (District 75, Newport)
Representative Lauren Carson spent ninety minutes today chatting with me on The Open Forum on 1540 AM WADK Newport. Topics discussed included tourism, environment, truck toll plan, affordable housing, 38 Studios, Memorial Boulevard traffic study, Newport Gateway Center, rising sea level, government ethics and much much more. Listen To The Podcast 12:30pm – 1pm 1pm […]
Posted inNews
VOTE NOW: Thompson Middle School Selected As Finalist For ‘Music In Our Schools Tour’ video contest
Brianna DeWitt-TMS and Pell Orchestras, TMS Tri-M Advisor The Thompson Middle School Tri-M Music Honor Society recently entered the Music In Our Schools Tour video contest. The students were required to submit a short video of themselves performing their school song. The winning school will be featured as a stop on the tour, celebrate with a private concert by a […]
Posted inNews
Newport Polo Seeks 2016 Gala Beneficiary
Photo: From left, Dan Keating, Captain & President of Newport Polo with Brooke Fairman, Auction Chair & Roger Williams Park Zoo Dir. Of Development, and Caroline Ervin, Auctioneer from Christie’s. For the 16thconsecutive year, the Newport Polo Club welcomes nominations of nonprofit civic or charitable organizations to be chosen as the beneficiary for its next gala, on Friday, Aug. 5, […]
Posted inNews
PODCAST: Newport Remembers Buddy Cianci
Buddy Cianci was always quite a fan of Newport, we remember him fondly today upon the news of his passing. I had the chance to spend time with him during a live broadcast of The Buddy Cianci Show on News Talk 630 & 99.7 FM WPRO at the Ocean State Tall Ships Festival a few years back, he went […]
Posted inFood & Drink, News
VanGogh Pizza Announces They Will Permanently Close
VanGogh Pizza, located at 12 Broadway, took to their Facebook Page on Thursday, January 28th to announce that they will soon permanently close. UPDATE: VanGogh Pizza will close on Sunday, February 7th. “With a heavy heart and tear filled eyes we would like to let everyone officially know that February 18th 2016 will be our […]
Posted inNews
RECAP: Newport City Council Meeting (Jan. 27)
The Newport City Council hosted their regularly scheduled meeting on January 27th at 6:30 p.m.at the Pell Elementary School Cafetorium, 35 Dexter Street. Here’s a quick round-up of some of the more interesting items that were reviewed, discussed and introduced – the full agenda for the meeting is here. Contact information for the Newport City Council can be found HERE. SPECIAL […]
Posted inThings To Do
What To Do This Weekend In and Around Newport (Jan. 29 – 31)
Discover the best events, activities, entertainment, live music and things to do this weekend in and around Newport, RI! 1 – Pajama Night at Newport Skating Center Friday from 5pm – 9pm Wear your PJ’s to the Newport Skating Center and be entered to win a “Newport Sleep Over” at the Hyatt Hotel on Goat […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
UPDATE: Parking For Residents of Newport During Winter Months Will Not Change
This story was originally posted on January 20th, it was updated on January 28th Councilor John Florez has submitted a resolution to be reviewed by City Council at their next regularly scheduled meeting on January 27th that would suspend the current parking ordinance during the month of January and February. With passage of the resolution, […]
Posted inNews
UPDATED: 15 Streets Added To Snow Emergency Parking Ban List
This story was originally posted on January 19th at 8:38 a.m. At their regularly scheduled meeting on January 13th and January 27th, Newport City Council addressed a request for city council action to increase the number of roadways where parking bans are established during snow emergencies. The recommendation came from the Department of Public Services […]
Posted inFood & Drink
UPDATE: New Owners of Cafe Zelda Approved For Class A Entertainment License
This post was originally published on December 29, 2015 What’sUpNewp brought you the news first on November 24th that Cafe Zelda had been purchased by Craig and Patrick Kilroy (PK), PK is a co-owner of Midtown Oyster, Rhumbline & Surf Club (formerly Perry Mill Tavern). The Kilroy’s have gotten approval for victualing and the transfer of […]
Posted inNews
Newport Health Equity Zone invites Public to Participate in Envision Event
On Saturday February 6th, 2016, the Newport Health Equity Zone will be hosting the Envision Newport Lab at the Florence Gray Center Gymnasium in Newport, RI. The lab will serve as a forum for the community to come together and explore innovative ways for which we can improve quality of life in Newport, particularly the […]
Posted inNews
PODCAST: Conversation with Phil West, Former Executive Director of Common Cause Rhode Island.
Frank Prosnitz and Phil West will joined me on The Open Forum on WADK 1540AM from 12:30pm – 2pm today, among the topics were ethics, the presidential race and much more. Phil West served for eighteen years, 1988-2006, as executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, the state affiliate of the national, nonpartisan, nonprofit citizens’ lobby that […]
Posted inStyle & Shop
Laura Jean Denim Will Host Annual Denim Sale From January 29 – 31
Laura Jean Denim will host their annual denim sale starting Friday, Jan. 29 through Sunday, Jan. 31. Popular denim brands like AG Adriano Goldschmied, FRAME, and MOTHER will be marked down to $50, $75, or $100. The annual sale will also include discounts on cashmere sweaters, cold weather accessories, jewelry and more. “If you’ve ever […]