Newport County Chamber to Launch Business Trade & Development Focus on Israel Middletown, RI – As a direct outcome of a 2015 visit and series of meetings by the Israel Economic Minister to North America with local business and elected officials, the Newport County Chamber of Commerce has initiated a series of activities to expand Israeli […]
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 inEnvironment & Health
Melges 32 Class Association Will Host 2016 World Championship in Newport
The most successful 30-ft grand prix racing class travels to Newport, RI and teams up with Sail Newport for the 2016 World Championship, September 28 – October 2 Newport, RI – On the heels of a highly successful 2015 World Championship in Trapani, the International Melges 32 Class Association (IM32CA) moves to Newport, R.I., partnering […]
Posted inNews
UPDATE: Newport Man in Coma Following Assault on Bliss Road on Friday Night
NBC 10 WJAR has reported that a Newport man is currently in a coma at Rhode Island Hospital after being attacked on Bliss Road on Friday night. According to a GoFundMe Page set up by his sister-in-law, Kyle Kettner of Newport was “attacked walking with a friend in Newport,RI. He sustained severe head trauma. He […]
Posted inNews
Newport’s Richard Hatch Has Been Eliminated from ‘The Biggest Loser’
After three weeks, Richard Hatch has been sent home from NBC’s The Biggest Loser. The Newporter was eliminated after losing the least amount of weight for his team. Hatch will appear on the finale and still has a shot at prize money with the “At Home” challenge. Those eliminated from the show will be weighed […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Renderings of Sheffield School Redevelopment Show How The Project Hopes to Innovate Newport
The Technology Business Incubator and Accelerator Is Expected To Open in 2017 Construction of a new, exciting business hub in Newport, currently titled InnovateNewport, could start as soon as this spring. The project which was announced in September 2014 entails the re-purposing and redevelopment of the Sheffield School, an idle City-owned public school property at 513 […]
Posted inHistory
PODCAST: Interview with Keith Stokes about Newport’s African American History
Keith Stokes, Vice President of 1696 Heritage Group, joined me on The Open Forum on 1540 AM WADK Newport on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to discuss enriched Newport’s African American History. Topics included the African American experience at home and overseas during WWI, Newport’s Gilded Age in color, slavery in Newport and much much […]
Posted inThings To Do
Best Things To Do This Week In Newport (Jan. 18 – 22)
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? E-mail Ryan@whatsupnewp.com. Monday, January 18th […]
Posted inCity & Government
Aquidneck Island’s Legislators Sponsor Dozens of Bills in First Two Weeks of 2016 General Assembly
The 2016 Rhode Island General Assembly kicked off the new year and the new session on Tuesday, January 15th. Aquidneck Island’s seven State Representatives have been quite busy introducing dozens of bills that range form topics such as charter schools, cell phone use, animals and more. Here’s what our State Representatives have done in the […]
Posted inFood & Drink, Things To Do
Upcoming Beer, Scotch and Wine Dinners Include Revival Brewing, Donelan Family Wines and Brooklyn Brewing
Discover Where To Experience A Beer, Scotch or Wine Dinner in Newport Whether your drink of choice is beer, scotch or wine, Newport has an abundance of dinners to keep you entertained over the next few weeks. Four Newport restaurants are offering some unique multi-course dining experiences over the next few weeks. January 20th, 2016 […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Newport’s Top 10 Hot Spots for Watching New England Patriots Playoff Football
The Kansas City Chiefs will roll into Foxboro today at 4:35pm to take on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in the Divisional Round of the 2015 season. In case you missed it – On Friday, we interviewed former New England Patriots Players and Super Bowl Champions Jarvis Green and Patrick Pass, catch the […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
Injured Newport Sailor Awarded $1.46 Million by Federal Judge For Caribbean Accident
The Providence Journal has reported (http://bit.ly/1lfCIEJ ) that Rhode Island Federal Judge John McConnell has awarded nearly $1.5 million to Kenneth Nevor of Newport, a former world-class sailor. Judge McConnell Jr. ruled on Thursday, January 14th that Moneypenny Holdings LLC, who owned the boat Nevor was sailing on, didn’t have proper safety procedures in place when […]
Posted inNews
Principal of Thompson Middle School and Secretary at Rogers High in Search of Bone Marrow Match
Jamie Crowley, Principal of Thompson Middle School and Maureen Martin, a secretary at Rogers High School, are in search for a bone marrow match. Crowley, who won the Middle School Principal of the Year Award in 2015, has recently been diagnosed with Myelodysplastic syndrome RAEB (MDS). He is in need of a bone marrow transplant and […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, Things To Do
Annual Sail For Hope Scheduled for October 15th
Sail Newport‘s Annual Sail For Hope event has been moved to October 15th. “The date was recently changed to augment the Newport Sailing Calendar without confilicting with other sailing events”, Sail Newport announced in a release on January 15th. Sail Newport expresses that they expect the event to offer the same awesome “last blast of the season” […]
Posted inNews
Four Newport Hotels Receive AAA’s Four Diamond Award
Ten Rhode Island hotels and one in nearby Seekonk, Massachusetts are among establishments throughout North America to receive AAA’s highest recognition for quality and service – the 2016 AAA Five or Four Diamond Award, AAA Northeast has announced. AAA’s professionally-trained inspectors throughout North America continue an 80-year tradition of conducting unannounced hotel evaluations, rating those […]
Posted inNews
PODCAST: Interview with Tony Gugliotta, Brad Read, Jarvis Green and Patrick Pass
Sean McNeill, a local sailing writer and public relations expert, joined Ryan Belmore, Owner/Editor of What’sUpNewp, as Co-Host on the Friday, January 15th edition of The Open Forum on 1540AM WADK Newport. The show was jam packed with guests and started off with an update from NBC 10‘s Tony Gugliotta on the Bristol 4th of July Parade. Following the discussion […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
Steve Benjamin and Annie Haeger Named US Sailing’s 2015 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year
Photo: Steve Benjamin (back – left) – Photo by John Payne Steve Benjamin and Annie Haeger today were named US Sailing’s 2015 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year. These two sailors, at different stages of their sailing careers, amassed a year to remember and will be recognized as the best of 2015. A total of […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Newport Blast Reports and then Retracts Story That Willy’s Burger Bar Has Been Purchased by TSK
The Newport Blast reported on Thursday night that Willy’s Burger Bar has been purchased by members of Thames Street Kitchen (TSK) and would be closing at the end of the month (January). The headline for the story was originally published as “Willy’s Has Been Purchased…And You’re Going To Love The New Owners”, and now reads […]
Posted inNews, Things To Do
Preservation Society’s Winter Lecture Series Will Provide Advice For Owners Of Historic Properties
The Preservation Society of Newport County’s winter lecture series, “Historic House, Historic Home,” will provide extensive advice for owners of antique properties. Preservation experts from Historic New England and Preserve Rhode Island will explain the value of preservation easements to provide legal protection for a property, how to choose the right paint shade, restore a […]
Posted inNews
PODCAST: Interview with Bob Plain of RI Future and Narragansett Bay Blog
Bob Plain, Editor and Publisher of RI Future and the Narragansett Bay Blog, joined Ryan Belmore, Owner/Editor of What’sUpNewp, on the Thursday, January 14th edition of The Open Forum on 1540AM WADK Newport. Ryan and Bob discussed RI Future, a Rhode Island blog on progressive politics and social justice, the Narragansett Bay Blog, a blog abut the economy, ecology and […]
Posted inNews, Things To Do
Newport County Chamber of Commerce Partners with Corner Bakery Cafe for Chamber’s ‘Business During Hours’
Middletown, RI – The Newport County Chamber of Commerce has announced they have partnered with Corner Bakery Café for the Chamber’s Business During Hours. The series luncheon takes place on the third Thursday of each month at the Chamber offices in Middletown. The January Business During Hours will occur on Thursday, January 21st from 12:00 noon […]
Posted inThings To Do
Best Things To Do This Weekend in Newport (Jan. 15 – 17)
Discover the best events, activities and things to do in and around Newport, RI this weekend! Friday, January 15th 8pm – 10pm: Live Improv Comedy :The Bit Players, RI’s most award-winning comedy troupe, hits the stage at The Firehouse Theater with their hilarious improv show full of larger than life characters, hysterical musical numbers, & the […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
UPDATE: Newport City Council Members Look To Change Process in Which Road Races Operate in City
This story was originally published on January 7th, 2016 Three members of the Newport City Council have proposed a resolution that could possibly change the way road races are applied for and held in the City of Newport. Councilor Leonard, Florez and Camacho have proposed the following City Of Newport resolution to be heard at their January […]
Posted inNews
Broadway Business Owners Form Merchants’ Association; First Priority Is Road Construction
On December 16th, more than one dozen Broadway business owners met at the Corner Cafe to discuss coming together to form the Broadway Merchants’ Association (BMA), “an effort to work together to make Broadway businesses more successful and ensuing that they provide one voice when working with the local powers that be.” The immediate focus and priority […]
Posted inNews
Public Meeting Will be Held on January 28th To Discuss Newport Open Space Partnership
The Newport Open Space Partnership is embarking on a comprehensive open space planning process to create a vision for the long-term sustainability and stewardship of the parks, public open spaces, and trees in Newport. On January 28, 2016 there will be a citywide public meeting at the Pell School to share progress, plans, photos and survey results. This effort […]
Posted inNews
RI General Assembly May Soon Make The Harbor Seal The Official State Marine Mammal
An act designating the harbor seal as the official state marine mammal was introduced to the RI General Assembly on January 13th, 2016. House Bill, 2016–H7111, was introduced by Representatives Azzinaro (District 37 – Westerly), Kennedy (District 38 – Hopkinton & Westerly), McNamara (District 19 – Warwick & Cranston) and Corvese (District 55 – North Providence). […]