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How to Create an Event Itinerary for Attendees and Event Organizers

When crafting an event itinerary, you’ll need to consider the experience of both your attendees and those involved in managing your event , including your event planning team, vendors, sponsors, exhibitors, and on-site staff.

This means that as a planner, you’re responsible for multiple event itineraries – a “back-end” itinerary for planning and management and a “front-end” itinerary created for attendees.

What Is an Event Itinerary?

As we’ll be looking at two different types of event itineraries, let’s get clear on the difference between the two.

An attendee event itinerary is used to inform event attendees of important agenda details like the event date(s), location, session and activity times, and scheduled transportation. On the other hand, an event itinerary for planners and staff contains scheduling details used to organize and execute the event, such as timelines for speakers and exhibitor setup times.

What Are the Essential Elements of an Event Itinerary?

Events can be huge revenue drivers, which is why it’s so critical to get them right. According to a recent study conducted by Research Dive, the global event industry is projected to generate $1,457.2 million in revenue by 2028, rising at a CAGR of 23.1% from 2021-2028.

As a planner, part of your job is undoubtedly to rake in as much revenue as possible with the help of your events. This means finding ways to boost your time management and operate more efficiently, cutting out as many uncertainties as possible by planning for everything, and making your event as enticing as possible to attendees.

The best way to do all of this? Crafting a detailed event itinerary. If done right, your itinerary can be a comprehensive guide to your event – a place for staff and attendees alike to have all (or most) of their questions answered.

Essential Elements of Event Management Itineraries

The essential elements of an event itinerary for those managing the event include an event schedule detailing the times, locations, and responsibilities for all vendors, venue staff, planning team staff, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors.

In your event management itinerary, you’ll outline elements like:  

• Content management details for speakers and presenters
• Event logistics instructions
• Event management roles and responsibilities
• Critical setup and timing details for vendors, exhibitors, and sponsors
• Equipment and supplies needed for each activity, session, etc.
• Travel information and accommodation details

Essential Elements of Attendee Itineraries

Your attendee itinerary will look much different than your behind-the-scenes itinerary. The essential elements of an event itinerary for attendees include an event agenda that’s easy to access, understand, and update so that if session times, locations, or speakers change, your attendees always know what to expect and where they need to be.

In your attendee itinerary, you’ll outline elements like:

• Critical scheduling information, such as check-in times, session agenda, etc.
• Local transportation and accommodation information
• Special activities during your event
• Details regarding accessibility

A great way to make your event calendar accessible and flexible is to leverage mobile event apps to give your attendees constant access to up-to-date itinerary details.

Event Itinerary Example

Want an event itinerary example before you start building out your own? Check out the event itinerary templates below to help you get started with an event management itinerary or an attendee itinerary.

Event Itinerary Template for Event Organizers, Vendors, and Participants

Use the event itinerary template below for those participating in bringing your events to life, including your planning team, vendors, venue staff, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors.

Date(s) of Event:

Start and End Time of Event:

Planning Team and Venue Staff:

• Contact information for all members of the planning team and POCs for venue staff, vendors, exhibitors, sponsors, and speakers
• Travel details, including information about traveling to your venue’s locality, accommodations, and local transportation
• Staff check-in time and location for each day
• Roles and responsibilities for each member of the team, including a detailed schedule of the time and location for each item
• Event setup and teardown times for staff, vendors, exhibitors, sponsors, etc.
• Load-in and load-out details, including access information, parking details, and rules and regulations
• Deadline to vacate event space
• Attendee event schedule, including high-traffic times and times when staff are free to attend sessions or other event activities
• Designated breaks and meal times
• Wi-Fi details, charging stations, and other tech-related information
• Contact information for planning team POC
• Check-in time and location
• Setup and teardown times and location, including deadline to vacate event space
• Equipment and supplies needed
• Time windows for vendor to be actively working/engaging with attendees or event staff
• Attendee event schedule to anticipate high-traffic times and determine when vendor staff must be available
• Venue rules and regulations applicable to each vendor
• Dress code for vendors

Exhibitors:

• Local transportation and accommodation suggestions, including any room block details
• Booth number, accompanied by exhibitor floor plan to identify booth location
• Rules and regulations such as booth size, signage, permitted materials, etc.
• Exhibit floor open hours, including anticipated high-traffic times to ensure booths are appropriately staffed
• Attendee event schedule to anticipate low-traffic times and opportunities for participating in other event activities outside of the exhibit floor
• Promotional presence, including where and when exhibitors will be promoted during your event to help them capitalize on these opportunities

• Local transportation and accommodation suggestions
• Booth and setup and teardown times and locations, including deadline to vacate event space
• Sponsor promotional content setup and teardown times, locations, and guidelines
• Rules and regulations such as booth size, signage, permitted materials, sponsor content guidelines, etc.
• Promotional presence, including where and when sponsors will be promoted during your event to help them capitalize on these opportunities
• Dress code for sponsors
• Local transportation and accommodation suggestions, including any room block details, as well as flights or other travel details if your planning team is organizing speakers’ travel to your location
• Check-in time(s) and location(s) for each speaking engagement to conduct sound checks, prep speakers, etc.
• Speaking schedule, including start/end time, location, and topic for each speaking engagement
• Audio-visual details, including equipment that will be available for speakers during their presentations
• Presentation materials or other supplies needed
• Travel and accommodation information if arranged by the planning team
• Attendee event schedule, including opportunities for participating in other event activities outside of speaking engagements
• Designated breaks and meal times, if speakers will be present for more than a few hours
• Promotional opportunities, including where and when speakers will be promoted during your event to help them capitalize on opportunities such as interviews, book signings, etc.
• Regulations and guidelines speakers must follow, including time limits, content restrictions, etc.
• Dress code for speakers

Event Itinerary Template for Attendees

Your attendees’ event itinerary must be clear and easy to follow and provide all the information attendees need to successfully navigate your event. The below event itinerary template includes all the details you should incorporate in your attendee itinerary.

Attendee Event Schedule:

• Your attendee itinerary should include a complete list of all available event activities, such as:
• Check-in and registration times and location
• Opening remarks and keynote speaker time, location, and description
• Session times, locations, and speakers
• Speaker bios and session descriptions so attendees know what to expect
• Exhibitor floor opening and closing times
• Networking and additional activities times and locations
• Special activities or add-ons available to select attendees
• Meal times and free periods
• Closing remarks/official event end

Need-to-Know Event Details:

• Room booking details for a room block or local options with convenient transportation to your venue
• Map of the venue, including a separate exhibitor floor map
• Contact details for an on-site representative or an information point for questions or assistance
• Wi-Fi details, charging stations, prohibited devices, and other tech-related information
• Transportation details, including shuttle services, parking information, local transportation options, etc.
• Sponsor and exhibitor details, including a list of all event sponsors and exhibitors (your attendee itinerary is a great place for promotion) and sponsored sessions or activities
• Venue accessibility information, including elevator access, ramp entrance locations, service animal guidance, sessions with closed captions or interpreters, etc.
• Dress code for attendees
• Local map or list of recommendations for meals, happy hours, and other activities outside of event hours

Smoother Planning and Execution with Event Technology

By now, you’re probably getting a feel for just how much work is involved in crafting an event itinerary. The best way to make things easier on yourself?

Event planner software ! According to a study by Enterprise Event Marketing, using event technology can increase attendance by 20% and productivity by 27%.

Now, this study was conducted in 2016, and event tech has only gotten more sophisticated, more customizable, and more robust since then, which means the positive impact of event tech has been growing in kind.

Not sure where to start with event technology or which solutions might work best for you? Here are just a few pieces of event tech that can help you throughout the planning process, including building your event itineraries:

• Event management software to help you manage the entire event planning, execution, and evaluation process
• Event marketing technology to manage all your event marketing efforts
• Content management software to help you communicate and collaborate with your event partners
• Event budget management software for all your event budgeting needs, from tracking expenses to proving ROI
• Mobile event apps to host all your event details, including your full attendee itinerary

Want a comprehensive list of the event tech available to planners today? Check out this blog post about event technology trends!

Hope Salvatori

Hope is a Senior Content Marketing Associate who has been with Cvent for more than two years. She has 8 years of experience producing content for corporations, small businesses, associations, nonprofits, and universities. As a content professional, she has created content for a wide range of industries, including meetings and events, government and defense, education, health, and more.

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Revealed – the no-fly zone across northern France during Paris Olympics opening ceremony

Exclusive: easyjet has cancelled almost 100 flights to and from the key airports in the french capital during the event, article bookmarked.

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On one of the busiest travel days of the year, planes will be excluded from a vast area of northern France for over five hours during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics . The ban has been imposed due to fears of a terrorist attack.

A no-fly zone covering 28,922 square miles – almost the size of Belgium – has been ordered by the French civil aviation authority , the DGAC, on the afternoon and evening of Friday 26 July. That is a key date for millions of travellers from France, the UK and elsewhere.

The Zone d’Interdiction Temporaire (ZIT) includes both the giant Paris airports – Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly – as well as Beauvais, a key budget airline base north of the capital. Normally the three would handle more than 350,000 passengers between them on a peak summer Friday.

The DGAC says: “A temporary prohibited area ( ZIT Ceremonie ) is created to ensure the implementation of the special air security arrangements as part of the protection of the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games 2024.”

Almost all planes will be banned from a circle with a radius of 80 nautical miles centred on Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris from 6.30pm to 12 midnight local time.

The International Ops Bulletin reports: “Flight plans to Paris airports will be rejected starting 1530z [5.30pm local time]. Departures from Charles de Gaulle might be allowed starting 2130z [11.30pm local time] with special approval.”

Besides arrivals and departures from those airports, thousands of other flights will be affected. For example, the most direct routes from London Heathrow and Manchester to Nice in southern France pass straight over the French capital. Flight paths such as Bristol to Milan and Edinburgh to Marseille also normally cross Paris.

They will need to be diverted over western France or Belgium, adding to the already severe pressure on European airspace.

Britain’s biggest budget airline, easyJet , has cancelled almost 100 flights to and from the French capital because of the airspace closure. Normally those aircraft would have carried around 18,000 passengers.

An easyJet spokesperson said: “Like all airlines operating to and from Paris, easyJet has been requested to reduce its flying programme for duration of the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony on Friday 26 July 2024.

“This resulted in the cancellation of 96 flights at both Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly .”

The airline says all passengers affected have been told and provided with alternative travel options.

Ryanair is the largest operator at Beauvais airport, with links from Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford and Manchester. A spokesperson said: “Due to the closure of the Paris airspace on 26 July, we, like all airlines, have been forced to cancel/reschedule a number of flights operating to/from Beauvais airport that day.

“Affected passengers have been notified and advised of their options. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of this Paris airspace closure, which is entirely beyond airlines’ control.”

Wizz Air has grounded only two flights. A spokesperson said: “We anticipate some minor delays due to the restrictions but do not expect any major disruptions. We would advise travellers flying on 26 July to monitor their flight’s status and allow more time than usual for airport procedures.”

Flights by military, customs, police, gendarmerie, civil security or emergency aircraft will be allowed in the area, along with “aircraft in charge of filming for the 2024 Olympic Games” and flights carrying dignitaries accredited by the French foreign ministry.

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Your guide to bringing the team together, without the stress

Finding the best location for your next company event, why is finding a great location and venue for your event so challenging.

• The number of event participants
• The price (both of the venue itself, and of travel/accommodation in the chosen place)
• Are there easy transit options available?
• Will you be able to organize group transportation (for example, coach buses to the venue?) Or will participants make their own way there?
• What’s the climate like in the chosen location? Is the venue indoors—if not, what’s your plan for cold, unpleasant weather?
• Does the event coincide with any public holidays in the chosen location, which might affect crowding or opening hours?
• Some events (like team building events or all-hands meetings) may require a specific type of venue
• Be sure to choose a state-of-the-art venue that is suitable for all attendees, including those with specific needs (limited mobility, dietary restrictions, etc.)

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Recommended solution: travel management software platforms.

• Invite attendees to events
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U.s. meetings and event travel: where they work, stay and play.

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The meetings and event industry has been a particularly hard-hit subset of the travel industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. This travel research report delves into the U.S. meetings and event marketplace dynamics and opportunities. The research examines traveler motivations, preferences, planning behaviors and spend patterns during pre-pandemic times, so industry stakeholders have benchmarks to consider when meetings and event travel returns. Based on a survey of meetings and event travelers, along with interviews with executives across the sector, the report also provides lodging spend and forecasts for the U.S. meetings and event segment through 2023. 

For more on meetings and event travel, see  COVID-19 Pandemic: An Unwelcome Event in Meetings & Event Travel .

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Our designated in-house event planning division and expert on-site coordinators are the industry’s top dream-team for all high-volume events.

ENTERTRAVEL’s experienced team of travel experts work side-by-side with top industry partners on the ground and in the air to customize individual services and budget programs for some of the nation’s top fundraising walks, bicycle rides, mud run challenges, and other marathons, triathlons, film festivals and series, and sporting events around the world. Our impressive in-house event planning division manages all group-specific services including motorcoach rentals, hosts a convenient online group-dedicated hotel booking platform, and deploys an exceptional team of on-site event staff coordinators upon request.

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ITB Berlin - these are the facts:

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Here are five reasons to convince you (and/or your boss):

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Visit the Number 1 place-to-be, because ITB Berlin is nothing less than The World‘s leading Travel Trade Show®. Everyone else is here!

2. MAKE BUSINESS!

Meet the entire global travel community under one roof in Berlin and make business in all important and upcoming industry segments.

3. DISCOVER TRENDS!

Think ahead and take a look into the future with the latest innovations from the ITB Berlin exhibitors and the most exciting news and insights from the industry.

4. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!

Benefit from the high-level, qualified participants at ITB Berlin: meet CEOs and decision-makers from around the world. They are all here to network!

5. GAIN CUTTING-EDGE KNOWLEDGE!

Take away effective tools to remodel your business, get inspired and learn about cutting-edge insights and best practices at the ITB Berlin Convention.

Even more information about the exhibitors can be found in the exhibitor list of ITB Berlin: Go to exhibitor list

America’s Favorite Travel Show Returns to New York

New york travel show, show location:.

Jacob K. Javits Center (Hall 3D/3E) 429 11th Ave New York, NY 10001 212-216-2000

2025 Show Dates:

Public Show Hours: Saturday, January 25: 10am – 5pm Sunday, January 26: 11am – 4pm

Directions/Parking:

Paid parking is available near the Convention Center. 

For more information on directions and parking,  Click Here

Phone: 203-878-2577 Email:  [email protected]

Get Tickets

Public Admission Fee:

Adults 17 and over.  Children 16 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.

Buy Online Advance Sale:

One Day Adult Ticket: $18 Two Day Adult Ticket:  $26

*Price valid for a limited time only!

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Note: Only Credit Cards Are accepted.

Active Duty Military Discount:  The Travel & Adventure Shows support all of our men and women in the U.S. armed forces. We thank you for your service. Please accept our small token of thanks – U.S. active duty military, and 4 members of their immediate family are provided FREE admission to the Travel Show. Please present U.S. active duty military ID at the Buy Tickets registration counter at the Show. Note: No refunds on previously purchased tickets.

Courtyard New York Midtown West   – .7 mi / 5 min walk to convention center 461 West 34th Street New York, NY 10001

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Room Rates: $TBA/night plus tax Rate Available through TBA * Rooms Available on a First-Come, First-Served Basis

Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Midtown West   – .6 mi / 4 min walk to convention center 444 10th Avenue at 35th Street New York, NY 10001

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Hyatt Place NYC Times Square – .6 mi / 4 min walk to convention center 350 West 39th Street, NY, NY 10018 New York, NY 10001

Online Reservations: TBA Phone: 1-212-904-1811

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Universal Studios Hollywood Hours 2024 FAQ, Tips, & Expected Hours

Universal Studios Hollywood hours can fluctuate throughout the year but typically follow a similar pattern depending on the season. Universal Hollywood only releases their hours about a month in advance which can leave guests wondering when Universal will open and close for the day on their visit.

Keep reading for our full Universal Studios Hollywood hours analysis along with common frequently asked questions surrounding when Universal Studios Hollywood opens and closes. Plus, our full list of when Universal Studios Hollywood will likely open and close based on historical park hours. And how to access Super Nintendo World before park opening!

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How to Check Universal Studios Hollywood Park Hours

Universal Studios Hollywood only releases their hours about a month in advance on the Universal website . Because of this short time frame we have projections on hours based on historical data from previous years.

But usually, only the opening and closing times will be posted and the entertainment schedule will only be available on the Universal Studios Hollywood app.

Universal Studios Hollywood hours will change throughout the year depending on the season, anticipated crowd levels, and this also impacts what type of entertainment is offered and how often.

What Time Does Universal Studios Hollywood Open?

Universal Studios Hollywood opening schedule fluctuates throughout the year. During less crowded times of the year the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park will open later in the morning with busier times of the year offering earlier opening times.

Here is a breakdown of the typical Universal Studios Hollywood opening hours you can expect:

• 8AM – peak travel days, weekends
• 9AM – most times of the year, weekends
• 10AM – slow times of the year, weekdays

During the majority of the year, you can expect to see Universal Studios Hollywood open at 9AM. Although some peak travel times will also see longer hours, more on this below!

This has been the pattern since Super Nintendo World has opened which is now offered for Early Entry.

Super Nintendo World Early Access

Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood is the number one draw in the entire park at the moment. This land has been increasingly popular since it opened and the demand is high for the experiences in the land. It's not uncommon to see Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge (the main e-ticket attraction in the land) to reach wait times of over two hours, even three hours during peak times of the year.

Not only is the attraction a huge draw, the restaurant inside the land is also popular along with all the Super Nintendo immersive game experiences. This is all what makes early access for Super Nintendo World so appealing.

Universal Studios Hollywood is currently offering tickets (purchased separately before regular park admission) to enter Super Nintendo World an hour before the park officially opens.

This might be one of the best ways to access Super Nintendo World right now. Super Nintendo World Early Access Ticket is an add-on option to your existing Universal Hollywood ticket. The ticket includes early access to Super Nintendo for one hour prior to the scheduled park opening time. So if Universal Studios Hollywood opens at 8AM, your early access ticket for Super Nintendo World will be from 7AM-8AM.

The ticket also includes one-time express line access to the Studio Tour until 11AM. The price for a ticket is around $20-30 per person.

See more on Universal Studios Hollywood ticket prices here.

• Discount Universal Studios Hollywood Tickets

Our favorite Disney-approved re-seller,  Get Away Today, offers the best Universal Studios Hollywood discount tickets around. In addition to great discount prices, their customer service and easy support is absolutely fantastic. They have an entire department dedicated to making sure every order has a wonderful experience and they are on-call to help you during your vacation if you need them.

Buying tickets from Get Away Today is easy and convenient since all their tickets are sent electronically. You can take their vouchers and head straight to the gate without needing to wait in any ticket booth lines. They also offer layaway plans so you can pay off your vacation over time.

Can You Enter Universal Studios Hollywood Before it Opens?

Technically, all guests will get the opportunity to enter Universal Studios Hollywood before the park opens. Universal will typically start scanning tickets and allowing guests to enter the gates about 30 minutes prior to park opening.

You won't be able to access the attractions until the park officially opens but this does give you a head start at positioning yourself near the areas you want to explore first. You can see our full guide to Universal Hollywood parking to look ahead at the options that are available if you are driving there.

The only other method to entering Universal Studios Hollywood before park opening is to purchase a Super Nintendo World early access ticket.

There is no early entry associated with hotels since Universal Studios Hollywood is much smaller in size than Universal Orlando and does not have its own official hotels on site.

When Does Universal Studios Hollywood Close?

Universal Studios Hollywood follows a similar pattern with closing hours like it does for opening hours. The busier the park day, the later the parks will remain open. The earliest that Universal Studios Hollywood will close is 6PM and the latest it will stay open is 10PM with the exception of Halloween Horror Nights which are a late night ticketed event.

Here is a breakdown of the typical Universal Studios Hollywood closing hours you can expect:

• 6PM, 7PM – slow times of the year, weekdays
• 8PM, 9PM – most times of the year, weekends
• 10PM – busiest times of the year, weekends

This pattern of longer Universal Studios Hollywood hours happens most often during these times of the year:

• the first week of January
• Martin Luther King Jr holiday weekend, January
• Presidents Day weekend, February
• June through mid-August

These times of the year reflect some of the busiest times at Universal Studios Hollywood including the Halloween and Christmas season, summer, and spring break. You will also see holidays extended during three-day weekends (think Presidents Day, Memorial Day, etc.) as Universal Studios Hollywood will anticipate more crowds during those times of the year.

Can You Stay at Universal Studios Hollywood After Park Closing?

When Universal Studios Hollywood officially closes for the night, the stores will remain open for an additional hour for guests to do their shopping. So you technically can stay inside the park for up to an hour after the official closing time. This is pretty typical of most theme parks as they want guests to spend their time in the stores before leaving the parks for the night.

As for attractions, as long as you are in line for a ride before the park closes then you will be able to experience the attraction. For example, if Harry Potter Forbidden Journey has a wait of 60 minutes and the park closes at 10PM you will need to get in line before that time. Even if you hop in line at 9:59PM you will be able to ride! This is why it's a good strategy to save those longer lines right before the park closes so that time spent in line is when the park is closed for the day anyways.

When Does Universal Studios Hollywood Close During the Off-Season?

Universal Studios Hollywood can close as early as 6PM for the off-season which is often considered weekdays in less busier months like January and February.

Even during peak times of the year, Universal Studios Hollywood will always close earlier on weekdays than on weekends. So if you want to enjoy the parks late into the night, visiting on a weekend is your best bet.

When Does Universal Studios Hollywood Close for Special Events?

Universal Studios Hollywood may close early on nights that Halloween Horror Nights are being held. This is easily one of the most popular events in the area for Halloween and draws large crowds.

Halloween Horror Nights often officially starts at 7PM and on those nights Universal Studios will usually close at 5PM as the park begins to transform into Halloween Horror Nights. If you do not have a ticket to Halloween Horror Nights you will have to leave the parks as it closes for the event.

Does Universal Studios Hollywood Close for Rain?

Universal Studios Hollywood does not close for the rain except for in extreme circumstances. Theme parks often continue to run in all weather conditions with the rare exceptions of extreme weather.

Some outdoor rides may close during periods of rain and will often reopen once the rain passes. Luckily, the majority of the rides at Universal Studios Hollywood are indoor so this won't impact too many attractions.

When is Universal Studios Hollywood Early Entry?

The only Universal Studios Hollywood early entry offered is the ticket access for Super Nintendo World. This usually takes place one hour before the park officially opens and allows access to only Super Nintendo World.

Is Universal Studios Hollywood Closed on Thanksgiving?

No, Universal Studios Hollywood is open year round including Thanksgiving. You can expect large crowds for Universal on holidays even ones like Thanksgiving. This is an ideal time to plan on purchasing Express Pass .

Is Universal Studios Hollywood Closed on Christmas? 

No, Universal Studios Hollywood is always open for Christmas and Christmas Eve! This is one of the busiest days of the entire year to be at Universal Studios Hollywood! This is a must to purchase Express Pass to avoid all the long lines.

Is Universal Studios Hollywood Open on New Year's Eve?

Yes! This is often known as being the busiest day of the year at Universal Studios Hollywood. Universal Studios Hollywood will usually stay open late with a large celebration taking place until midnight with DJs, food, and drinks. This is a popular event among locals and you can expect large crowds to come out to celebrate.

Universal Studios Hollywood Hours FAQ 2024

Universal Studios Hollywood is also a working tv studio along with a theme park so this may have something to do with it. Universal also knows what the demand is for the parks. On the days that Universal Studios Hollywood closes early, these days also often coordinate with the least busy days of the year. On peak travel days, Universal Studios Hollywood is often open later to best serve more crowds.

No, Universal doesn't always close at 6. During the summer and holiday months Universal Studios Hollywood will stay open as late as 9PM.

Sometimes Universal Studios Hollywood would include early entry passes as part of vacation packages but now they mainly offer early entry as part of the special Super Nintendo World ticket.

Plan Your Southern Californian Vacation!

Keep reading our blog to keep you updated on everything you need to know to prepare for a Disney Parks vacation! We have a team of writers working hard to keep you updated weekly on events in the parks and tips for navigating the magic. Subscribe to our  free deals newsletter  to receive helpful planning information, exclusive Disney deals, and access to the lowest priced Disney tickets anywhere. You can find more information on planning your vacation here:

• Universal Studios Hollywood Guide
• Universal Orlando Guide
• Universal Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights
• Universal Hollywood Christmas Guide

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10 Best Hotels Near Universal Studios Hollywood 2024

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About Lindsay Brookshier

Lindsay is a college English instructor and has years of writing experience through various nonprofits, charities, newspapers, and online magazines. As the content director of Mickey Visit, she oversees article content and leads our fantastic team of writers to meet guest vacation needs. You can still find her writing weekly content to help make your Disney Parks trip fantastic here on Mickey Visit and Disney Dose- you can also view her recently featured posts on Disney Parks travel on Visit Anaheim, Nerd Wallet and SFGate. Lindsay comes from a dedicated Disney family and enjoys taking her son to the Disney parks as often as possible.

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40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 17 May 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

Elektrostal's fascinating history, vibrant culture, and promising future make it a city worth exploring. For more captivating facts about cities around the world, discover the unique characteristics that define each city . Uncover the hidden gems of Moscow Oblast through our in-depth look at Kolomna. Lastly, dive into the rich industrial heritage of Teesside, a thriving industrial center with its own story to tell.

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Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

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Nelly Korda seizes 2-shot lead at Mizuho Americas Open, inches closer to 6th win in 7 events

It didn’t take Nelly Korda long to put another tournament within her grasp.

Korda shot a 7-under 65 Saturday and will take a two-stroke lead over Hannah Green into the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open in a bid to win for the sixth time in her last seven events on the LPGA Tour.

“Yeah, I think I’ve always had this mentality,” Korda said of putting the pedal to metal every time she plays. “I’ve always given it a 100%. I’ve looked up to great athletes like (Rafeal) Nadal and Roger Federer, which the blend of the two I hope I have. The grace that Federer has and the fight that Nadal has.

“So just having people that I’ve looked up to and I’ve seen and I’ve admired, I hope that’s something I carry on to the golf course,” the world’s No. 1-ranked player added.

After seeing Rose Zhang snap her tour record-tying five tournament winning streak in the Cognizant Founders Cup last week, Korda has gotten better every round in posting a three-round 13-under 203 total at scenic Liberty National at Jersey City, New Jersey. She started with a 70 and followed that with a 68 and now the 65.

Green, whose two wins make her the only other multiple winner on tour this year, took advantage of the calm and dry morning conditions and made a major move, shooting an event-record 63. It was one shot better than the best round last year, the first year of the event.

“Right now, Nelly is very much out of reach of getting world No. 1,” Green said. “I still want to get into the top 5 in the world now that I got into the top 10. Yeah, just want to keep pushing, not get too ahead of myself.”

Korda and Green, who are ranked 1-2 in the Rolex player of the year standings, will be in the final grouping Sunday on the course that has the New York City skyline, the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty for a backdrop.

Neither player had a bogey Saturday, but they did combine for 16 birdies. Korda played in the afternoon when the weather got a little chillier and windier and there was a light rain for the final nine holes. She took the lead with a birdie on 15, just missed an eagle on the driveable 16th and then missed two birdie putts on the final two holes.

She walked off the course shaking her head.

“The first nine the wind was down, it was sunny, it was warm,” Korda said. “By the time we got near to the water on the back nine the wind started picking up and it started drizzling. It was the weather we kind of played in the first day, so made sure to stay warm and to take it a shot at a time.”

They won’t have to worry about Zhang. The defending champion had to withdraw early in the first round with an illness. Overall, seven players withdrew with various illnesses in the first two days.

Rookie Gabriela Ruffels of Australia, who finished third last week, was tied for third at 10 under with Ayaka Furue of Japan, who birdied the final hole.

Jennifer Kupcho, who lost this event last year in a playoff with Zhang, was at 9 under along with Sophia Popov of Germany and Pajaree Anannarukarn of the Phillipines. Kupcho and Popov had 67s, one more than Anannarukarn.

There was a large group at 8 under, including first-round leader So Mi Lee, the South Korean alternate who got into the event an hour before her tee time.

Third-round leader Atthaya Thitikul, who recently returned from a thumb injury, struggled and had a 74 and was in a group at 7 under, six shots behind Korda.

Green hit 17 greens despite missing a couple of fairways.

“Actually hit it really close, so it was really nice to actually not have to stress about trying to make pars today,” the 27-year old said. “But it did feel like autopilot for a little bit there, which is very nice. So, yeah, now I put myself hopefully in contention for Sunday.”

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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Time in Elektrostal , Moscow Oblast, Russia now

• Tokyo 09:42AM
• Beijing 08:42AM
• Kyiv 03:42AM
• Paris 02:42AM
• London 01:42AM
• New York 08:42PM
• Los Angeles 05:42PM

Time zone info for Elektrostal

• The time in Elektrostal is 8 hours ahead of the time in New York when New York is on standard time, and 7 hours ahead of the time in New York when New York is on daylight saving time.
• Elektrostal does not change between summer time and winter time.
• The IANA time zone identifier for Elektrostal is Europe/Moscow.

Time difference from Elektrostal

Sunrise, sunset, day length and solar time for elektrostal.

• Sunrise: 04:04AM
• Sunset: 08:41PM
• Day length: 16h 37m
• Solar noon: 12:23PM
• The current local time in Elektrostal is 23 minutes ahead of apparent solar time.

Elektrostal on the map

• Location: Moscow Oblast, Russia
• Latitude: 55.79. Longitude: 38.46
• Population: 144,000

Best restaurants in Elektrostal

• #1 Tolsty medved - Steakhouses food
• #2 Ermitazh - European and japanese food
• #3 Pechka - European and french food

Find best places to eat in Elektrostal

• Best seafood restaurants in Elektrostal
• Best sushi restaurants in Elektrostal
• Best business lunch restaurants in Elektrostal

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Robert Menendez ‘Put His Power Up For Sale,’ Prosecutors Say in Senator’s Trial

The corruption trial of the New Jersey senator began on Wednesday with prosecutors describing a bribery scheme. The defense said he “was doing his job, and he was doing it right.”

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Nicholas Fandos

Here are 5 takeaways from the opening statements in Robert Menendez’s corruption trial.

The corruption trial of Senator Robert Menendez , a powerful New Jersey Democrat, spun into motion in Manhattan on Wednesday, with combative opening statements and an extraordinary claim by the defense.

Speaking directly to the jury, a U.S. prosecutor asserted that Mr. Menendez “put his power up for sale,” trading favors involving Egypt and New Jersey businessmen for gold bars, cash and a Mercedes-Benz convertible. But it was a lawyer for Mr. Menendez who shook the courtroom awake, piling blame on the senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez.

Mr. Menendez, 70, betrayed little emotion as he watched the opening statements from the courtroom, where he is facing some of the gravest charges ever leveled against a sitting U.S. senator. He has pleaded not guilty.

He is being tried alongside two of the businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana. Prosecutors have also charged Ms. Menendez, but her trial was delayed until July for health reasons.

Here are five takeaways from the senator’s third day on trial:

The prosecution tried to keep it simple.

Prosecutors have spun a dizzying set of accusations against Mr. Menendez, filing four rounds of charges that involve a halal meat monopoly, a Qatari sheikh and the inner workings of the U.S. government. All of it could easily confuse jurors.

So laying out a road map for their case, they offered the panel a far simpler view: “This case is about a public official who put greed first,” said Lara Pomerantz, an assistant U.S. attorney. “A public official who put his own interests above the duty of the people, who put his power up for sale.”

What the jury needed to understand, she insisted, was that favors were granted by Mr. Menendez, including a letter ghost written to help Egypt and calls to pressure important government officials. In exchange, the couple amassed hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, bars of gold and much more, with Ms. Menendez as a “go-between.”

Who Are Key Players in the Menendez Case?

Senator Robert Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, and his wife, Nadine Menendez, are accused of taking part in a wide-ranging, international bribery scheme that lasted five years. Take a closer look at central figures related to the case.

The defense: A tale of two Menendezes.

Mr. Menendez’s lawyer, Avi Weitzman, used his first words to the jury to flatly deny that arrangement. But the heart of his defense was a head-turning proposition: Do not confuse the senator with his wife.

Mr. Menendez, his lawyer said, was “an American patriot,” the son of working-class immigrants who made it to Congress. All those instances of Mr. Menendez purportedly abusing his office to help a foreign power or New Jersey businessmen? They showed a senator “doing his job,” Mr. Weitzman said, asserting that the government had found no record of Mr. Menendez negotiating bribes.

He did not say the same of Ms. Menendez, who had come late into the senator’s life and concealed her financial burdens and communications from him, according to the lawyer. Mr. Weitzman did not outright say that Ms. Menendez accepted bribes. But if she did, he wanted to make it clear that his client did not know “what she was asking others to give her” — especially all that gold.

The gold was hidden in a closet.

To make his point, Mr. Weitzman displayed photographs of a closet that he said belonged to Ms. Menendez. It was there, in her private quarters, he disclosed, that the F.B.I. found the gold bars and cash with Mr. Daibes’ fingerprints.

The senator did know that his wife had some gold, but assumed it was from her wealthy family of Persian rug dealers, the lawyer said. When Mr. Menendez repeatedly searched for the price of gold on Google, the lawyer said, he was looking to see how much money Ms. Menendez could generate from that family gift — not to cash out a bribe.

“He did not know of the gold bars that existed in that closet,” he said.

Likewise, Mr. Weitzman said Mr. Menendez had been in the dark about how Ms. Menendez got the funds to purchase a $60,000 Mercedes-Benz convertible. In a guilty plea, another New Jersey businessman admitted that he gave Ms. Menendez the car “in return for influencing a United States senator to stop a criminal investigation.”

The high stakes trial is being overshadowed. Blame Trump.

The case against Mr. Menendez could hardly be more serious. It has already made history: Mr. Menendez is the first senator to be indicted in more than one bribery case. (The first ended in a mistrial in 2017.)

But as his trial opened this week in Lower Manhattan, it was hard to escape the conclusion that it was being overshadowed by the state courthouse just a few hundred yards away. That is where, thanks to a quirk of timing, former President Donald J. Trump is in the midst of his hush-money trial .

The first ever trial of a former president has inspired wall-to-wall cable news coverage. Unlike the Menendez case, it includes nationally known witnesses, like Stormy Daniels and Michael Cohen. And it has attracted a parade of high-profile visitors to buck up Mr. Trump, including the speaker of the House.

All of it is probably good news for Mr. Menendez and his party, which is vulnerable to political attacks after allowing him to continue serving in the Senate under indictment.

Expect a long trial. That’s not good for Senate Democrats.

The case has proceeded unusually quickly since the government first brought charges in September 2023. As for the trial, do not expect a verdict anytime soon.

Prosecutors have said they may take as many as six weeks to lay out the tangled web of corruption they say surrounded Mr. Menendez. When Judge Sidney H. Stein read a list of dozens of potential witnesses (including several sitting senators), he informed jurors they would be likely to hear testimony in Spanish and Arabic.

The defense has indicated it will then take another one to two weeks, setting up a verdict sometime around July 4. Except for odd days off, Mr. Menendez will be stuck in the courtroom the whole time, depriving Democrats of a key vote in the Senate, where they control a spare 51-to-49 majority.

Maria Cramer and Maia Coleman contributed reporting.

Maria Cramer

Menendez was ‘doing his job,’ his lawyer says.

When Senator Robert Menendez reached out to the New Jersey attorney general about an investigation into Latino truckers, he was looking into concerns of discrimination, his lawyer, Avi Weitzman, said.

When he pressed for Egypt to get additional aid and weapons from the United States, he was engaging in diplomacy, Mr. Weitzman said.

And when a real estate developer, Fred Daibes, asked for help with a stalled project, the senator acted on behalf of a constituent, Mr. Weitzman said during opening statements on Wednesday at the beginning of the New Jersey Democrat’s corruption trial.

“In short, the evidence will show Bob was doing his job and he was doing it right,” Mr. Weitzman told the jury.

In an opening that lasted more than an hour, Weitzman referred to the senator as “Bob,” describing him as a dedicated legislator and “American patriot” who was not taking bribes but doing the everyday job of a legislator.

Mr. Weitzman, in a telling moment that indicated how the defense would present its case to the jury, said that Mr. Menendez had no idea that the gold bars found in his wife’s closet had come from Mr. Daibes.

Ms. Menendez is being tried separately in July. She is accused of acting as a go-between for Mr. Menendez, Egyptian intelligence officials and businessmen, including Mr. Daibes, who were seeking political favors from the senator.

But Mr. Weitzman said that Ms. Menendez had financial troubles she was trying to keep from her husband. Her dealings with New Jersey businessmen like Mr. Daibes had nothing to do with Mr. Menendez, Mr. Weitzman said.

Mr. Weitzman suggested that it was easy for Ms. Menendez to keep her husband in the dark about her “financial challenges.”

The senator and his wife kept separate lives — not even sharing a phone plan — and the senator adored Ms. Menendez, whom he found “dazzling” and began dating in 2018, Mr. Weitzman said.

She was beautiful, tall and spoke four languages, Mr. Weitzman said: “Bob fell for her.”

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Tracey Tully

Menendez was a senator ‘on the take,’ prosecutors said.

In her opening statement, Lara Pomerantz, an assistant U.S. attorney, used short sentences and relatable language to guide jurors through the complicated framework of the bribery charges against Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey.

She accused Mr. Menendez of being as corrupt as he was powerful.

“This was not politics as usual,” Ms. Pomerantz said of Mr. Menendez, a Democrat who until last year led the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “This was politics for profit. This was a United States senator on the take.”

More than once she turned and gestured toward Mr. Menendez, who was seated behind her, flanked by his lawyers.

Mr. Menendez, 70, leaned forward attentively, but showed no obvious emotion, his hand at times resting on his chin and over his mouth.

Prosecutors have charged Mr. Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, with a multifaceted bribery scheme that lasted from 2018 to 2023. The senator, Ms. Pomerantz told jurors, steered aid to Egypt — a country she said “was hungry” for American support. He meddled in criminal cases involving businessmen in New Jersey, Ms. Pomerantz said.

And, with Mr. Menendez’s backing, the government of Egypt “dropped a lucrative monopoly” in the lap of friend, who, she said, had no experience in the industry.

In exchange, the senator was given bribes of gold bars, cash and a luxury car, she said.

“For years,” Ms. Pomerantz said, “Robert Menendez betrayed the people he was supposed to serve by taking bribes.”

If these opening arguments are any indication of the trial ahead, it is going to be long, complex and fascinating. We already got privileged looks into the inner workings of government and the private life of one of the nation’s most powerful elected officials.

So that concludes a very lively day of opening statements. The government leveled major charges at Senator Menendez, asserting that he “put his power up for sale.” His lawyer denied the senator ever accepted a bribe and pinned blame on his wife, Nadine Menendez.

The trial returns from a break, but Judge Stein unexpectedly calls it a day. Lawyers for Wael Hana and Fred Daibes still have to deliver opening statements, and the parties agreed to pick them up tomorrow.

Judge Stein now lectures Weitzman, who tried to mention his twin and his grandparents who survived the Holocaust to connect their tales with Menendez’s troubles. “Your personal story is not for this jury,” Judge Stein says.

After a little more than an hour, the opening statement from Senator Menendez’s defense team has wrapped. Jurors will hear next from lawyers for his co-defendants, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. But first, Judge Stein says the court will take a brief break.

Weitzman has gone on for more than an hour in his opening statement, prompting Judge Stein to ask how much longer he has to go. “A page and a half,” Weitzman replies. “You have a man’s lifetime of public service in your hands,” he says. He tells the jury the case will affect Menendez for the rest of his life, prompting an objection from prosecutors. Judge Stein sustains it and explains to the jury that they are not to worry about punishment. That’s his job.

The trial has now veered into a history lesson on the development of New Jersey’s waterfront across the Hudson River from New York City. Prosecutors say Menendez intervened with Qatar to help Daibes land a major investment in a real estate project on the waterfront, but Weitzman is disputing that Menendez played any improper role. He said the senator was merely carrying out normal foreign policy and his actions had no effect on the investment.

Maia Coleman

This is the second time Menendez faces federal corruption charges.

Wednesday was the first day of the federal corruption trial against Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, but the sight of Mr. Menendez at the defense table likely evoked images of an earlier court proceeding: Mr. Menendez’s 2017 corruption trial.

Long before Donald J. Trump became the first former U.S. president to be criminally prosecuted, Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, made history as the first sitting U.S. senator in 36 years to face a federal bribery trial over what prosecutors described as a scheme to trade political favors for lavish gifts.

Mr. Menendez was accused in 2015 of doing favors for a friend, Dr. Salomon Melgen, a wealthy eye doctor from Florida, in exchange for gifts, including rides on a private plane, and political donations. He was charged with 12 counts of corruption, including six counts of bribery and three counts of honest services fraud. Dr. Melgen was also accused in the case and tried alongside Mr. Menendez.

The trial, which lasted more than two months in late 2017, centered on whether Mr. Menendez’s friendship with Dr. Melgen had crossed a legal line, raising questions about intent, friendship and official government acts.

Closely watched in Washington for its implications on political donations, the trial in Newark saw appearances from several high-profile figures, including Senator Cory Booker, another New Jersey Democrat, and Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, both of whom testified as character witnesses for Mr. Menendez.

During closing arguments , Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for Mr. Menendez, called the charges “a lot of hooey over nothing,” saying that there was “a Grand Canyon” between the evidence presented and the accusations leveled against the senator. Peter Koski, the lead prosecutor, in his closing statements rebutted: “Friendship and bribery can coexist, ladies and gentlemen.”

After less than two weeks of deliberations, jurors said they were unable to reach a verdict, leaving the presiding judge, William H. Walls, to declare a mistrial . One juror told reporters afterward that 10 of the 12 jurors had supported finding Mr. Menendez not guilty.

In January 2018, prosecutors announced that they intended to retry Mr. Menendez , but less than a week later, Judge Walls acquitted Mr. Menendez and Dr. Melgen of seven of the 18 charges they faced.

The Justice Department dismissed all the remaining charges against the senator a few days later, leaving Mr. Menendez free to return to Congress and begin campaigning for re-election.

Weitzman is describing Menendez’s actions as those of a concerned legislator who had gotten complaints from constituents about unfair treatment. He went to New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal about the state’s investigation into Latino truckers working for Jose Uribe because he worried there was discrimination involved, Weitzman said.

He went to Philip R. Sellinger, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, about an investigation into Fred Daibes because he was concerned about a conflict of interest: Sellinger was involved personally in a separate lawsuit involving Daibes, Weitzman said. “Bob acted lawfully, appropriately and entirely for the benefit of New Jerseyans,” Weitzman said.

Avi Weitzman, the lawyer for Menendez, has been speaking for about an hour now. He has just turned to the final facet of the government’s case: The charge that Senator Menendez tried to install a favorable U.S. attorney in New Jersey to help protect Fred Daibes in exchange for bribes. Weitzman again says there was no bribe, and that Menendez was merely doing due diligence because he worried one of the candidates for the prosecutor post would not be fair.

Weitzman is now discussing the $60,000 Mercedez-Benz that one of the New Jersey businessmen has confessed to buying Nadine Menendez as a bribe. The lawyer says that the senator initially assumed she had bought it herself.

Judge Stein just gently chastised Weitzman for his presentation: “Stick to the evidence sir, not the sermonizing.”

The defense is deep into the weeds now, underscoring just how tangled aspects of this case are. Weitzman is confirming that Menendez contacted a U.S.D.A. official about a halal meat monopoly run by the Egyptian-American businessman accused of bribing him. But the lawyer says he will present evidence showing that the call was all above board.

If you’re just joining us, Avi Weitzman, the lawyer for Menendez, is giving his opening statement. He is delving into the government’s allegation that Menendez helped Wael Hana, a friend of his wife, get a monopoly on certifying Halal meat imported into Egypt from the United States. But it’s Egyptian officials who decide who gets that business, not a U.S. senator, Weitzman said. “For whatever reason” the Egyptian government chose Hana’s business, Weitzman said.

Weitzman says there is plenty of evidence to contradict the charge that Menendez was acting as a foreign agent. For example, at the same time that he was supposedly taking bribes to help Egyptian officials, Menendez was publicly “taking them to task and he is telling them that they need to do better on human rights,” Weitzman says.

Senator Menendez’s lawyer, Avi Weitzman, is now pivoting. He is explaining to the jury that many of the senator’s actions in the case amount to “constituent services” carried out in the interests of the people of New Jersey. He is preparing to explain that Menendez was simply trying to help some of those constituents — like Daibes and Uribe — right a wrong.

Weitzman adds that there is nothing criminal about helping constituents who are also friends of his or his wife. “You may not like it, but it’s not illegal,” he said.

In Washington, will the Menendez scandal elicit more than a shrug?

Senator Robert Menendez is facing some of the most serious charges ever leveled against a sitting American lawmaker. But as he goes on trial in Manhattan this week, his colleagues back in Washington could hardly seem less interested.

The case briefly upended the Capitol back in September, when Mr. Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, was first indicted in a bribery case accusing him of covertly aiding Egypt and throttling criminal inquiries at home. Dozens of senators called on him to resign.

But after Mr. Menendez brusquely rebuffed them , Democrats and Republicans in the clubby Senate largely moved on. Most have had little to say about the case since, leaving Mr. Menendez free to continue his congressional work as he fights to prove his innocence.

Fellow Democrats have offered explanations. They point out that Mr. Menendez was stripped of his committee chairmanship after the charges, and that he has all but acknowledged his political career is over .

Many — including Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader — have defended Mr. Menendez’s right to clear his name. (The senator was indicted once before but never convicted because of a hung jury; this time, he has pleaded not guilty.)

Perhaps more surprisingly in a capital where partisans are typically eager to weaponize corruption accusations, Republican senators have mostly given a pass to Mr. Menendez, a well-liked deal-maker who has spent three decades in Congress, and to his party.

“I’m really glad he’s not a Republican,” Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the minority leader, said on Wednesday.

The tone could yet ramp up as prosecutors air their case in the coming weeks. But with a war in the Middle East consuming the Senate and former President Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial continuing in New York, there are few signs that senators are eager to talk more about Mr. Menendez — except one.

Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, has tried unsuccessfully to persuade the chamber to expel Mr. Menendez and expressed frustration that the New Jersey senator’s colleagues were willing to let him stay.

“I’ll never understand how people were OK with that,” he said.

Mr. Fetterman said he was particularly alarmed by accusations that Mr. Menendez had worked as a foreign agent for Egypt, accepting gold bars and other lucrative payoffs, at the same time he was serving as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He argued that Mr. Menendez deserved his day in court but that the Senate should hold its members to a stricter standard.

“It just gets more and more indefensible why we can’t come together and chuck him,” he said.

For now, Mr. Menendez’s trial will have at least one very tangible impact in the narrowly divided Senate. With Mr. Menendez stuck in a New York courthouse five days a week for the next two months, he will not be able to cast votes or participate in committee hearings.

Weitzman goes back to Menendez’s humble beginnings to explain the presence of the cash found in his house. As the the son of Cuban immigrants who grew up poor in tenement housing in Union City, N.J., Menendez frequently saw his parents storing cash in the house. As an adult, he would do the same, a habit he had for years, Weitzman said. Some of the bills found in the house were not even in circulation anymore, which Weitzman said contradicts the prosecution’s claims that this was cash Menendez got from the other defendants.

Now we are onto the cash. The F.B.I. found more than $400,000 of it when they raided the couple’s home. Menendez’s lawyer says the cash belonged to the senator and was amassed over three decades in $400-$500 increments because of trauma in his past.

In a setback for the senator on this point, Judge Stein issued a ruling yesterday precluding his lawyers from presenting testimony from a psychiatrist who had evaluated Menendez . Her testimony had been expected to address the cash authorities found stockpiled in Menendez’s home.

Menendez, as a sitting senator, had an obligation to reveal all his assets in a financial disclosure form, as well as his spouse’s. When he learned about the gold bars he contacted Senate officials to tell them, Weitzman says. He did this before he even knew there was a federal investigation into him, Weitzman said. “He’s not trying to hide his assets,” he said.

If you are just joining us, Avi Weitzman, a defense lawyer for Senator Menendez, is offering his opening statement. The lawyer has said his client never took bribes or broke the law. He is laying blame for the gold bars that authorities found in the couple’s home on Nadine Menendez, the senator’s wife.

Weitzman, a personable lawyer who is peppering his statement with jokes and details about himself (“I’m a twin”), makes another quip. He asks the jury if they know about “Where’s Waldo?”, the fictional character in the red-and-white hat who hides in large crowds. The prosecution objects. Weitzman continues: the evidence will show that while Nadine Menendez was trying to resolve her financial problems and meeting with Daibes, Hana and Uribe, Menendez was nowhere to be found. “Where’s Bob?” Weitzmann says. “He was doing his job.”

Avi Weitzman, Menendez’s lawyer, is taking aim at another key piece of evidence raised by the prosecution: the senator’s repeated Google searches for the price of gold. He says this was not related to any bribes, but carried out because his wife’s family had long owned a lot of gold, including kilogram gold bars.

Weitzman has now leaned in hard to what is likely to be a central pillar of Menendez’s defense: He was fooled by a beautiful woman. “The evidence will show that Nadine was hiding her financial challenges from Bob,” he said. “She kept him in the dark about what she was asking others to give her.”

Weitzman is casting Nadine Menendez as a financially troubled, fun-loving woman who had friendships with a lot of connected men who helped her out. She tried to keep that from Menendez, Weitzman said. They had separate lives and did not even share the same cell phone plan. He asked: “Is it really surprising that Bob might not know that those gold bars” were in her closet? “Nadine was hiding her financial challenges.”

This is a pretty remarkable moment in the courtroom right at the start: Menendez’s defense team is piling on his wife. “Let me say this about Nadine: Nadine had financial concerns that she kept from Bob,” said Avi Weitzman, his lawyer. He asserts that the senator was in the dark about what his wife was up to with the businessmen prosecutors say bribed them.

Weitzman said the senator found Nadine “dazzling.” She was beautiful, tall and spoke four languages. “Bob fell for her.”

The jury that is now listening to opening statements took more than two days to seat. The jury of six men and six women — as well as six alternates — was selected and sworn in by Judge Stein a little before 1 p.m., capping days of questioning. The jurors come from New York and Westchester counties, and many of them have advanced degrees. The group includes a retired economist, an entertainment consultant and an occupational therapist.

We are entering what we expect to be the heart of the defense: the relationship between Bob and Nadine Menendez. Avi Weitzman, the senator’s lawyer, is offering jurors the history of their love story. But he appears to be preparing to blame her for some of the ugliest aspects of this case.

Weitzman said there was an “innocent” explanation for the gold bars and cash. He puts up photos of Nadine Menendez’s closet, which was teeming with clothes. The senator, Weitzman said, “did not know” she had gold bars provided by Fred Daibes. “He knew she had family gold,” Weitzman said.

“Resist that urge, ladies and gentlemen,” Weitzman said, to judge Menendez on the gold and cash found in his home.

Weitzman just boiled the defense into a single line: “In short, the evidence will show Bob was doing his job, and he was doing it right.” He says the prosecutor’s case amounts to “speculation and guesswork.”

He also said Menendez was engaging in diplomacy with Egyptian officials. When he asked about pending criminal cases and investigations, he was trying to make sure investigators were treating his constituents fairly. “That’s what dedicated public servants do,” Weitzman said.

Judge Stein has now interrupted Avi Weitzman, Menendez’s lawyer, a couple of times. He appears to be concerned about how the lawyer is presenting biographical information about the senator’s character.

Avi Weitzman, the lawyer delivering Senator Menendez’s opening, was himself a former prosecutor in the Southern District where, from 2005 to 2012, he handled a dozen criminal jury trials. It’s often high drama when a defense lawyer who once prosecuted cases in the Southern District goes up against the office in a big trial.

Weitzman goes into Menendez’s childhood as the son of Cuban immigrants who grew up in tenement housing in Union City, N.J., became the first person in his family to graduate from college and went into politics because he “was committed to doing good.” “This was not the most lucrative path for him,” Weitzman said. But he chose it because it was the “most rewarding.”

Weitzman, the lawyer for Menendez, begins his opening statement by calling the senator an “American patriot.” He is no foreign agent, but a “lifelong public servant,” Weitzman said. He calls him “Bob,” a man who began his political career 50 years ago while he was still in college.

If you are just joining us, Lara Pomerantz has finished the prosecution’s opening statement. She charged Menendez of putting “greed first.” Avi Weitzman, one of the senator’s lawyers, is now beginning his opening statement of defense. He says flatly that Menendez took no bribes and broke no laws.

Pomerantz, as she wraps up, repeats the line she delivered to the jurors at the start of her opening statement: “Menendez put his power up for sale.” She urges the jury to use their “common sense.” If they do, she said, they will find that “Robert Menendez, Wael Hana and Fred Daibes are guilty.”

Other witnesses the government plans to call include a U.S. Department of Agriculture official, the U.S. attorney of New Jersey and the former attorney general of New Jersey.

Pomerantz confirms that Jose Uribe, who has pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, will testify. Uribe, she says, “will give you an inside look.” “He will testify at this trial in the hopes of getting a lower sentence,” she said, adding, “We’re not asking you to like him.”

Lara Pomerantz, the U.S. prosecutor, said the government will prove its case, in part, through texts Nadine Menendez sent Wael Hana, the owner of a halal meat company. Pomerantz notes that the senator was “too smart” to send texts himself and advised his wife to keep certain things out of her messages. Still, Nadine Menendez sent details in her texts that implicate both of them, Pomerantz said. “The text messages will tell you what happened," she said. "As you read those messages you’ll see the scheme unfold.”

Vivian Yee and Karoun Demirjian

For Egypt, Menendez was key to accessing billions in U.S. aid.

After decades as one of the world’s largest recipients of U.S. foreign aid, the Egyptian government was nervous about how long the largess would continue at that level. But when the United States cut a sliver of that aid in 2017 over Egypt’s grim human rights record, stunning Cairo, Egyptian officials found an ally in Senator Robert J. Menendez of New Jersey.

He happened to be the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a position that Egypt evidently felt could help its footing in Washington. And even as he accused the Trump administration of being insufficiently tough with Egypt, prosecutors say he was doing favors for Egyptian officials who had gotten to know him through his then-girlfriend — signing off on arms sales and secretly helping it lobby Washington to release funding.

In return, according to a federal indictment of Mr. Menendez unsealed last September, Mr. Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, received hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, checks and bars of gold.

Since the late 1970s, Washington has sent Cairo up to $1.3 billion each year as a legacy of Egypt’s peace agreement with Israel in the Camp David Accords — money that Egypt treasures as a sign of its strategic importance and which has paid for its ever-growing military arsenal.

For Egypt, the United States is an indispensable patron, one that it constantly tries to convince of its value on issues including terrorism, security for Israel and migration to Europe. Sitting in the southeastern Mediterranean on Israel’s western border, it paints itself as an island of stability in a turbulent region that includes Sudan and Libya.

Since President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took power in 2013 by deposing the country’s first democratically elected leader, Egypt has arrested tens of thousands of activists, opposition politicians, researchers, journalists and other perceived political opponents, including some Egyptians whose only apparent offense is re-sharing Facebook posts critical of the government. It has also muzzled the news media and quashed all protest.

During the years when prosecutors say Mr. Menendez was doing favors for Egypt, other members of Congress were clamoring for more restrictions to be put on the military assistance, or for tranches of it to be frozen, until Egypt improved its human rights record.

Mr. Menendez was one of those calling for change. He was one of 17 senators who signed a 2018 letter pressing the Trump administration to raise “the erosion of political and human rights” in Egypt when Mr. el-Sisi visited Washington.

Here are 7 reasons people gave to avoid jury duty.

Before jury selection in Senator Robert Menendez’s bribery case began, the federal judge overseeing the case gave prospective jurors a chance to explain why serving for the trial’s duration — likely two months — would be a hardship.

The would-be jurors disclosed challenges familiar to many families: child care, work obligations, long-planned vacations and scheduled surgeries.

Other explanations were less conventional. Not all resulted in immediate disqualification. Here are a few:

One juror told the judge, Sidney H. Stein, that he had an extreme fear of heights and would have difficulty serving in a courtroom on the 23rd floor of the federal courthouse. The man, who works as a financial adviser on the second floor of an office building in New Jersey, said he was already feeling anxious and unwell. “I’m really sorry, everybody,” he said as he was excused from service and escorted from a room adjacent to the courtroom, where the judge questioned jurors with hardship claims for the better part of two days.

A doctoral candidate studying art history at CUNY said she had a grant to conduct research at the Centre Pompidou’s archives in Paris next month. Judge Stein suggested that she might shift her research to later in the summer. “In August, Paris is empty,” he said, apparently unaware of the onrush of tourists expected this summer for the Olympic Games.

“August,” she replied, “the archives are closed.”

A woman who works as a law professor explained somewhat sheepishly that she had tickets to see a Bruce Springsteen concert in Spain during a five-week, prepaid summer vacation in Europe scheduled to start later this month.

“Springsteen just announced his tour dates for the next year — seriously,” Judge Stein offered.

“Will he live that long, though?” the prospective juror responded about the rock icon, who is 74.

“He’s decided just to keep on going,” the judge concluded, declining to immediately dismiss the woman. “So, you can catch him, probably.”

A graduate student said she was applying to roughly 25 medical schools and explained that the applications, due in the coming weeks, included multiple essays, which she had not completed. “So that is a priority of mine,” she said. Judge Stein asked about her flexibility to work on the applications at night and on weekends. She explained that she volunteered as an unpaid epidemiologist and also worked 30 hours a week as a gymnastics coach.

A graphic artist who works for late-night comedy television shows said he did not believe he could be impartial. “I’ve certainly worked on things critical of the senator,” he told the judge on Monday. The judge was unconvinced.

The man then added that he had safety concerns, given that some of the charges were tied to foreign governments. “There’s a lot of fears when it comes to this stuff,” he said.

“This is not the Trump trial,” Judge Stein replied, adding, “I’ve never heard any issue like that here.”

Still, the man persisted, noting that he had a fear of the Saudi Arabian government — a country not listed among the names and places jurors had been read at the start of the selection process.

“Now I think you’re simply trying to get out of jury duty,” the judge said.

That’s when the man made a final pitch that seemed to reveal a curious set of priorities.

His pregnant wife, he said, was expected to deliver a baby on June 15.

He was among the final batch of jurors excused on Wednesday.

A woman said she had nonrefundable tickets to travel to Rome and Greece in June. She said she was meeting up with a sister who she had only recently met. “A half sister that I just met in December ’20,” the woman explained.

“I’m tempted to ask people for proof,” Judge Stein said before dismissing the juror.

A cyclist described a planned three-month cross-country bike trip that was planned to start May 30.

”I take it that’s something you can cancel, if need be?” the judge asked, eliciting a yes.

“And reschedule?” he pressed.

“Well,” the cyclist answered, “not as easy.”

Katherine Rosman and Tracey Tully

Senator Bob Menendez’s famous children carry a burden.

Alicia and Rob Menendez have surely enjoyed the privileges of being children of a powerful political leader. Alicia is an increasingly high-profile anchor on the cable news network MSNBC. Rob is a Democratic congressman from New Jersey who is in his first term representing a majority Hispanic district.

But they have also confronted a difficult dynamic: the anguish and embarrassment of having their father, Senator Bob Menendez, being accused of public corruption.

The drama has been relentless. In March, new developments underscored the gravity of the case against the Menendezes’ father, who, with his wife, Nadine Menendez, is accused of accepting bribes of gold, cash and a Mercedes-Benz in exchange for an array of political favors.

After a former ally pleaded guilty and began cooperating with prosecutors, Senator Menendez and Nadine Menendez were additionally charged with obstructing justice. Both have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Alicia and Rob Menendez used to be game to talk publicly about their father, joking about his penchant for playing Super Mario Bros., his love of musical theater — “Wicked” is his favorite show, they said in a 2011 campaign ad — and his bragging about being on the varsity bowling team in high school.

These days, they are less eager to talk about him. But their desire for privacy is complicated by the fact that they too are public figures who cannot, without sacrificing their own careers, avoid a public spotlight.

Rob Menendez, 38, is fighting for political survival in a June 4 Democratic primary. He and his father share a name, and Senator Menendez has not ruled out running for re-election in November as an independent candidate — leaving open the possibility that both could appear on the same ballot and confuse voters.

Alicia Menendez, 40, has been forced to address the charges against her father — and calls for his resignation — on live television.

The legal drama has unfolded in parallel with important events in the siblings’ own careers. In March, a judge ordered Senator Menendez and his wife back to court just as Alicia and Rob were preparing for President Biden’s State of the Union address — Alicia would be contributing to MSNBC’s live coverage of the event, and Rob would be in attendance, a member of the congressional assembly.

Friends and colleagues say that it is a challenging time emotionally and professionally for Alicia and Rob Menendez, both of whom declined through spokesmen to comment for this article.

They are unlikely — however unfair it may be — to escape the stigma of the allegations against their father, said Sally Quinn, the longtime writer from The Washington Post who does not know the Menendezes but has observed the familial fallout of political scandal from the Nixons to the Clintons to the Cuomos to the Trumps.

“When your close loved one is at the center of a political scandal,” she said, “it’s in your obit too.”

A senator’s wife drew prosecutors’ attention.

In early 2019, Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his new girlfriend, Nadine Arslanian, were thriving.

He had avoided a federal bribery conviction after his trial ended with a hung jury , and the couple had begun traveling the world.

Mr. Menendez proposed to Ms. Arslanian that October in India with a grand gesture, singing “Never Enough” from “The Greatest Showman” outside the Taj Mahal. They married a year later and were showered with gifts from a dozen influential friends.

The senator moved into his wife’s modest split-level house in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and they have since attended state dinners at the White House, dining with the president of France and the prime minister of India.

Then their life took a dark turn.

Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, is again on trial, charged with taking part in an elaborate, yearslong bribery scheme. This time there is a volatile new element: charges against his wife.

The case, prosecutors have indicated, is as much about Ms. Menendez as it is about her husband. They have depicted the couple as collaborators who took bribes in exchange for the senator’s willingness to steer weapons and government aid to Egypt, prop up a friend’s halal meat monopoly and meddle in criminal investigations involving allies.

Together, prosecutors contend, Mr. Menendez and his wife were entangled in corrupt schemes that began even before their marriage. The bribes, which included cash and gold bars, helped Mr. and Ms. Menendez live above their lawful means, prosecutors say.

Ms. Menendez, 57, has pleaded not guilty, as has her husband. Her trial was delayed until summer after her lawyers notified the court that she was contending with a serious illness.

Ms. Menendez did not respond to requests for comment. But court records and interviews with her former lawyers, acquaintances and longtime friends show that the years after her 2005 divorce from her previous husband were a time of legal tumult and financial uncertainty.

She relied mainly on alimony and child support, and at one point picked up part-time work as a hostess at a New Jersey restaurant, said Douglas Anton, a lawyer who represented Ms. Menendez in several legal matters.

Mr. Anton, who dated Ms. Menendez before her relationship with Mr. Menendez began, said he had been struck by her sharp intelligence and felt frustrated that she had not pursued a career.

“Just a smart woman,” Mr. Anton said. “Her talents were being wasted.”

As Menendez’s star rose, fears of corruption cast a persistent shadow.

Robert Menendez’s education in political corruption came unusually early. In 1982, he turned against his mentor, Mayor William V. Musto of Union City, N.J., the popular leader of their gritty hometown.

Mr. Menendez took the witness stand and testified that city officials had pocketed kickbacks on construction projects, helping to put a man widely seen as his father figure behind bars. Mr. Menendez, then 28, wore a bulletproof vest for a month.

The episode, which Mr. Menendez has used to cast himself as a gutsy Democratic reformer, helped fuel his remarkable rise from a Jersey tenement to the pinnacles of power in Washington as the state’s senior senator. The son of Cuban immigrants, Mr. Menendez broke barriers for Latinos and has used his perch as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to influence presidents and prime ministers.

But those who have closely followed his career say the years he spent enmeshed in Mr. Musto’s machine also set the tone for another, more sinister undercurrent that now threatens to swallow it — one in which Mr. Menendez became a power broker himself whose own close ties to moneyed interests have repeatedly attracted the scrutiny of federal prosecutors.

The explosive bribery charges he now faces accuse the senator and his wife of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for helping increase U.S. assistance to Egypt and trying to throttle a pair of criminal investigations involving New Jersey businessmen. Investigators who searched their suburban home found piles of cash squirreled away, gold bars , and what they described as an ill-gotten Mercedes-Benz.

Interviews with nearly two dozen New Jersey political figures who worked with, watched and fought him, as well as a review of court records stretching back two decades, paint a complicated portrait of a man who has been both a pathbreaking legislator of unusual intelligence and a vindictive politician with a propensity for accepting lavish gifts he could never have afforded on a government salary.

As a measure of how damning the indictment appears, no one — not even a longtime ally recommended by Mr. Menendez’s office — agreed to publicly defend him on the conduct described by prosecutors.

“What we are witnessing is a pattern that developed early and just spun out of control,” said Robert Torricelli, a former Democratic senator from New Jersey who served alongside Mr. Menendez in Washington. “People don’t often change. In a lot of ways, Bob Menendez is still a Union City commissioner in the late 1970s.”

Christopher Maag

The Menendez indictment set off a political frenzy in New Jersey.

Facing federal charges that he accepted bribes, including cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz, Senator Robert Menendez announced on Sept. 22 that he would not resign.

A day later, Andy Kim, a little-known Democratic congressman from southern New Jersey, gathered his top advisers for a conference call. Everyone present assumed that Mr. Kim would announce his intention to challenge Mr. Menendez for his Senate seat.

The question was when.

Zack Carroll, who was Mr. Kim’s campaign manager during his first race for Congress in 2018, told the group that a typical campaign launch takes six weeks. “You don’t upset a two-term incumbent by flying by the seat of your pants,” Mr. Carroll said.

Mr. Kim listened quietly. Then he read aloud his campaign announcement.

“What if I were to announce in three hours?” Mr. Kim said.

The announcement, which Mr. Kim posted on social media that afternoon, kicked off perhaps the luckiest Senate campaign in modern New Jersey history. Over the next six months, Mr. Kim went from underdog to front-runner, outmaneuvering Tammy Murphy, the wife of Gov. Philip D. Murphy, who joined the race in November and quickly won the support of New Jersey’s powerful Democratic Party machine.

In late March, Mr. Menendez said he would not run in the party’s primary. Three days later, Ms. Murphy ended her campaign.

Mr. Kim is not yet a U.S. senator. There are two other candidates in the Democratic primary and four candidates running on the Republican side, although no Republican has won a Senate seat from New Jersey since 1972. Mr. Menendez has also left open the possibility of running for re-election as an independent in November. But Mr. Kim has now become the odds-on favorite.

In many ways he has benefited from the frustration of Democratic voters, particularly progressive activists, over the state’s machine politics.

“Tammy Murphy represents the arrogance of the party bosses,” said Valerie Huttle, a former New Jersey state assemblywoman who was ostracized from the party after she challenged a boss-endorsed candidate for State Senate in 2021. “That’s what I think helped Andy.”

Along the way, he also won a stunning ruling in federal court, barring party chairs from designing ballots in this June’s Democratic primary that give preferential treatment to their endorsed candidates.

“It is probably the most significant shift in New Jersey politics in decades,” said Steven Fulop, the mayor of Jersey City and a candidate for governor in 2025.

Here’s the latest on the Menendez trial.

Opening statements began on Wednesday afternoon in the corruption trial of Senator Robert Menendez , a powerful New Jersey Democrat accused of selling out his public office and his country in pursuit of lucrative bribes.

The case has already dealt a near-lethal blow to Mr. Menendez’s four-decade political career. But a jury of a dozen citizens sworn in earlier Wednesday has now begun formally weighing his fate under intense scrutiny.

Lara Pomerantz , the U.S. prosecutor delivering the government’s opening statement in federal court in Manhattan, said that the case was about a public official “who put his power up for sale.”

Avi Weitzman, the lawyer delivering Mr. Menendez’s opening statement, distilled the senator’s defense into a single line: “Bob was doing his job, and he was doing it right.” He argued that the prosecutor’s case amounted to “speculation and guesswork.”

Mr. Weitzman also attempted to pin blame on the senator’s wife, Nadine Menendez, who has also been charged in the case. “Let me say this about Nadine: Nadine had financial concerns that she kept from Bob,” he said. He asserted that the senator was unaware of what his wife was up to with the businessmen prosecutors say bribed them.

The charges are among the most serious ever brought against a sitting U.S. senator. The government has accused Mr. Menendez and his wife of conspiring to trade his “influence and power” as Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman to foreign powers and New Jersey businessmen in exchange for a Mercedes-Benz convertible , mortgage payments, gold and cash.

Mr. Menendez, 70, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, some of which carry up to 20 years in prison.

He is being tried alongside two of the businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana. Ms. Menendez, 57, will be tried in July.

The case has already made history. Mr. Menendez is the first senator ever indicted under the foreign agent statute, and the first in the Senate’s 235-year history to be indicted twice in separate bribery cases. His first prosecution ended in a mistrial in 2017.

Here’s what else to know:

The case has proceeded quickly since the government first brought charges in September 2023. But the trial could be protracted. Judge Stein has laid out a timetable that could run until around July 4.

In a setback for the senator, Judge Stein issued a ruling on Tuesday precluding his lawyers from presenting testimony from a psychiatrist who had evaluated Mr. Menendez . Her testimony had been expected to address the cash authorities found stockpiled in Mr. Menendez’s home.

Prosecutors are prepared to detail a list of official actions they say Mr. Menendez traded for bribes. These include ghost writing a letter from Egypt lobbying senators to release military aid; trying to quash criminal cases for Mr. Daibes and another businessman, Jose Uribe; and introducing Mr. Daibes to a member of the Qatari royal family who could invest in a real estate development.

Watch CBS News

"Extreme" G5 geomagnetic storm reaches Earth, NOAA says, following "unusual" solar event

By Li Cohen

Updated on: May 11, 2024 / 8:32 PM EDT / CBS News

An "extreme" G5 geomagnetic storm reached Earth on Friday, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center said , after issuing a watch earlier in the day warning of the potential for a severe impact. 

The watch followed days of solar activity that sent several explosions of plasma and magnetic fields toward Earth. 

G5 is the strongest level of geomagnetic storm , on a scale from G1 to G5. 

"Widespread voltage control problems and protective system problems can occur," NOAA warns. "Some grid systems may experience complete collapse or blackouts. Transformers may experience damage." 

Radio transmissions and satellite navigation may also be disrupted.

The last G5 geomagnetic storm, in October 2003, caused power outages in Sweden and damaged transformers in South Africa.

A geomagnetic storm also means aurora borealis , otherwise known as the northern lights , could be seen as far south as Alabama and in Northern California. 

Earlier, NOAA had issued its first watch for a potential G4-level geomagnetic storm in almost 20 years. "If geomagnetic storms were hurricanes, 'severe' would be category 4," SpaceWeather.com says. 

In a press release on Thursday, NOAA said the most recent series of solar events started on May 8, when a large cluster of sunspots produced "several moderate to strong solar flares." Solar flares are bursts of radiation known to be the solar system's largest explosive events, according to NASA. The area where the flares are occurring is 16 times the diameter of Earth, the NOAA said, and more solar activity is expected. 

That sunspot is so big you may be able to see it with your own eyes  — with your solar eclipse glasses. The spot is known as AR3664 , and it was responsible for most of the geomagnetic activity Friday, the NOAA reported. According to Space.com, it measures about 124,000 miles across and is one of the "largest and most active sunspots seen this solar cycle." 

The NOAA reported that a strong solar flare was observed peaking from AR3664 at 9:23 p.m. Eastern Time Friday. 

"Flares of this magnitude are not frequent," the prediction center said . 

Still have your solar eclipse glasses? There's currently a sunspot so large you will be able to "spot" it while wearing them 15x wider than the earth! pic.twitter.com/XpQJEd4Qk0 — Eric Fisher (@ericfisher) May 9, 2024

There has also been a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are explosions of plasma  and magnetic fields that come out of the sun's corona, the outermost part of the sun's atmosphere. At least five CMEs appear directed toward Earth and could arrive as early as midday on Friday and persist through Sunday, the agency said. 

"This is an unusual event," NOAA said.

In a call with reporters on Friday, Shawn Dahl, service coordinator at the Space Weather Prediction Center, said that some CMEs "are catching up with other ones." He said officials are expecting a "big shock arrival" when they hit Earth. Dahl said at the time that while officials weren't predicting a G5 storm — the strongest of geomagnetic storms — they couldn't discount a "low-end G5 event."

"We're really buckling down here," Brent Gordon, chief of the space weather services branch, also said on the call.

G4 conditions were detected by Friday afternoon, marking a "major disturbance in Earth's magnetic field," NOAA said, adding that "the public should stay properly informed of storm progression."  

In a forecast discussion at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center said that solar activity is expected to continue at "high to very high levels" through the weekend, with additional solar flares expected, including X-class flares , the most powerful class of solar flares.

As of Friday afternoon, NOAA said it had observed a moderate solar radiation storm that could expose people in high-flying aircraft to "elevated radiation risk" and cause infrequent issues with satellite operations. 

Radio blackouts have also been detected with an R3 designation, meaning that the blackouts were "strong" on a scale from R1 (minor) to R5 (extreme). At this level, wide blackouts of HF radio communication is expected, as well as loss of radio contact, for about an hour on the sunlit side of Earth, as low-frequency navigation signals decline for roughly an hour. 

"Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth's surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations," NOAA said. "[The Space Weather Prediction Center] has notified the operators of these systems so they can take protective action."

Dahl agreed Friday that the event is "pretty extraordinary" and said that it could impact infrastructure, including high-voltage transmission lines of the power grid. Dahl said that infrastructure operators have been notified to adequately prepare. 

This is the first time a storm watch has been issued for a G4 since January 2005. There is an average of 100 severe geomagnetic storms every solar cycle, but so far, there have only been three observed in the most recent cycle that began in December 2019. The most recent occurred on March 23. 

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.

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New Polynesian Island Tower to open at Walt Disney World in December 2024

I f you're like me and think there's nothing that screams "vacation" more than a stay at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World , then I have some great news.

The new Island Tower being built at Disney's Polynesian on the side of the resort nearest Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is now projected to open to guests in December 2024. Along with Tiana's Bayou Adventure and the new cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort coming this summer, this is one of the biggest additions to Walt Disney World this year.

As part of Disney Vacation Club , reservations will be available first to DVC members beginning June 4, then to Disney annual passholders June 5 before they are opened for all June 6. As with all DVC resorts, you don't have to book a stay with DVC points that you own (or rent); you can also book stays with cash just like you would for Disney's other resort hotels. In fact, in a somewhat unusual order of events, at least at first, only cash stays will be bookable to DVC members and non-members alike.

This new 10-story tower won't just open up more rooms for guests at the Polynesian. It will also introduce, for the first time, some additional room sizes and types. Similar to many of the other recent DVC developments, including The Villas at Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Riviera Resort , the new tower will offer small duo studios for just two guests, deluxe studios (most similar in size to the existing rooms), one-bedroom villas, two-bedroom villas and two-bedroom penthouse villas that sleep up to nine guests.

Disney's Polynesian Village Resort will continue to have the existing two-bedroom overwater bungalows that are also bookable with (a lot) of cash or DVC points.

Related: How to rent Disney Vacation Club points and save hundreds of dollars on your vacation

When it comes to styling, it appears that the new development will have a somewhat distinct look and feel from the existing Polynesian structures. For starters, it is one large hotel building rather than the multiple smaller longhouses that the Polynesian has traditionally used.

Beyond that, Disney shared that the architecture draws inspiration from the property's early concept art and references the thrill of exploration and the beauty of the natural world in regard to the design and feel of the resort.

More specifically, in the tower's lobby, you can expect a ceiling art installation inspired by South Pacific islands that highlights a variety of native wildlife, with each animal symbolizing a connection to the islands and values important to the people from that region.

Additionally, Disney shared that it leaned into Polynesian wayfinding and the natural elements of water, earth, wind and fire in the styling of the new tower. It will feature artwork from contemporary Polynesian artists, along with some art that gives subtle nods to both "Moana" (which is also true of the existing Polynesian rooms) and Disney's iconic artist, Mary Blair, whose work is prominent in the lobby mural of Disney's Contemporary Resort as well.

Related: The best Disney World hotels for your stay

While Disney's Polynesian Village Resort purists may have some feelings about the departure from the traditional architecture and styling at the resort, others are likely excited for more lodging size options and the ability to book modern, all-new rooms at one of the most popular monorail resorts at Walt Disney World.

We'll update you on new amenities and pricing in both cash and DVC points as that information becomes available.

Related reading:

• How to use points to buy Disney tickets
• Are the Disney Visa credit cards worth it?
• Tips for visiting Disney World: 19 ways to save money and have more fun
• 12 reasons to stay at a Walt Disney World Resort property

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.