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Album Review: VENERA Venera

"Venera could have easily been a forgettable fluke ('Remember that weird album from the Korn guitarist?'), but it actually plays remarkably well in the...

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KORN's MUNKY & Composer CHRIS HUNT Have A New Band Called VENERA

Their first song has Vowws on it, and it's real catchy.

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VINERA WINE TOURS

NEW IN 2025!

Bom dia portugal – northern adventure, $5,995.00 p/p.

(based on double occupancy)

May 25 – 31, 2025 August 17 – 23, 2025 August 24 – 30, 2025

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Portugal’s stunning landscapes, steeped in rich traditions and flavors. Experience the allure of its diverse regions, from the enchanting Lisbon to the captivating mountains in the north, on a voyage of exploration and discovery.

HEART OF GERMANY TOUR

$4,995.00 p/p, september 7 – 13, 2025.

Join us on a tour through the heart of Germany and experience the culture, food, and wine of Germany.  Your adventure will take you to the scenic vineyards of Rheingau, the charming city of Heidelberg, Baden-Baden’s thermal spas, and the picturesque Pfalz. The highlight will be the Bad Dürkheimer Wurstmarkt, the world’s largest wine festival.

LOCAL MONTENEGRO EXPERIENCE

$6,495.00 p/p, august 31 – september 6, 2025.

Immerse yourself in the local lifestyle as you meet families and savor authentic cuisine, wines, and liquors. Marvel at the majestic mountaintops, explore ancient villages and be captivated by charming towns. Our chartered boat will offer you an unforgettable journey along the breathtaking coastline, showcasing the best of Montenegro’s natural beauty.

NORTHERN ITALY WINE TOUR

August 24 – 30, 2025 august 31 – september 6, 2025.

Visits to historic Verona, famous Lake Garda, charming Tirol, and the breathtaking mountains of the Dolomites and experience famous wineries of the region. All this while staying at the upscale Boutique Villa and for the final night; on top of the Italian Alps. Experience the history, culture, cuisine, stunning views, and fine wines of Northern Italy.

TUSCANY WINE TOUR

$5,495.00 p/p, september 7 – 13, 2025 september 14 – 20, 2025.

In the heart of Tuscany, lies an authentic private Tuscan Villa, waiting to transport you to the vibrant flavors of Italy. Immerse yourself in the rich culture, explore ancient architecture, and wander through medieval villages. Indulge in the unique flavors of Italian wines as you embark on a culinary journey. Prepare for a truly unforgettable experience.

VINERA WINE CLUB

Vinera wine society.

1625 Ord Way

Oceanside CA 92056

Email: [email protected] Phone: 800.371.9463

Registration # : 2111349 – 40

Vinera Tours has been organizing exclusive wine tours & cruises for over 10 years.

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THE 10 BEST Palo Alto Tours & Excursions

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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Silicon Valley Private 2-Hour Driving Tour

2. Silicon Valley Tour Private Day Trip from San Francisco

3. Private Tour to Silicon Valley

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7. Silicon Valley Charter - Google Apple Meta Stanford University

8. 5-Day In Depth San Francisco Tour with Unique Experiences

9. Stanford's Art and Architecture: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

10. Private Walking Tour in Stanford University

11. Tintype Portrait and Historic Photography Lesson

12. SUV Tour To Silicon Valley Including Stanford Walking Tour

13. Private Full Day Tour to Sillicon Valley from San Francisco with Hotel pick-up

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between Liguria & Tuscany

Portovenere: all you need to know

When thinking of the Italian Riviera, the well-known Cinque Terre often come to mind first. These five villages deserve a spot on your list. But this part of Liguria keeps a sixth secret town. Portovenere, Italy, is the ideal destination for travelers who love the idea of going off the beaten path. This hidden gem is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features pristine nature, a gorgeous medieval town with colorful buildings, and lots of history. If you want to enjoy the essence of “ la dolce vita ” and explore a less touristy Italian Riviera destination, Portovenere is a fantastic alternative to Portofino and Cinque Terre.

Here is the ultimate travel guide with all you need to know about Portovenere, Italy.

Where is portovenere.

Portovenere is a great base for exploring the part of the Italian Riviera that stretches between Portofino (Liguria) and Versilia (Tuscany). It overlooks the Gulf of La Spezia, also known as the Gulf of Poets because of the numerous writers and artists that it attracted in the past ( read the article History of Portovenere ) and still today ( see the post Portovenere: a celebrity vacation spot ). Portovenere is the “gateway” to the five villages of Cinque Terre. This has led many travel experts to nickname Portovenere as Cinque Terre’s “Sixth Town”.

How to get to Portovenere

• By car : It’s really easy to get to Portovenere by car from La Spezia with a panoramic 20-minute drive. Unlike its Cinque Terre neighbors, you can access Portovenere by car and park right next to the historical center. There is no free parking unless you book directly with a hotel such as Grand Hotel Portovenere.
• By boat : You can get to Portovenere by boat from the ports of La Spezia, Lerici, Levanto and four of the Cinque Terre towns (Monterosso, Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore). The boat service generally begins towards the end of March and ends in early November. You can also opt for a taxi boat service or sail in your private boat.
• By airplane : The nearest airports are in Pisa (Galileo Galilei Airport) and Genoa (Cristoforo Colombo Genova-Sestri Airport), respectively 80 km (50 mi) and 110 km (68 mi) away.
• By helicopter : You can get to Portovenere by helicopter with Cielo Aviation, which lands in nearby La Spezia.
• By bus : Take the 11/P bus that departs from the La Spezia Train Station to reach Portovenere in about 30 minutes. By hiking: There are wonderful hiking trails that connect Portovenere to Cinque Terre, La Spezia and Levanto.

For more, read How to travel around the Bay of Poets .

What to do in Portovenere Italy?

Classic things to do in Portovenere include hiking up to the majestic Doria Castle and on Palmaria Island, strolling in the narrow carugio lined with craft and food shops, sipping an aperitivo or fine dining on the harbor, visiting the iconic churches of San Pietro and San Lorenzo. Why is this bay known as the Gulf of Poets? Reach Byron’s Grotto to find the answer. It is said that this fantastic swimming spot was a favorite of the poet Lord Byron, who meditated and swam here in the 1800s.

If you are looking for more unusual things to do in Portovenere, don’t miss the oyster tour that takes you around the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto and includes a visit to the local oyster farms. It’s a fantastic opportunity to discover why this exquisite, exclusive product has a unique green color and taste. Check out what to do in Portovenere in case of rain , Top 10 Things to do and our guide to the Best outdoor activities in Portovenere .

Best places to see near Portovenere

Portovenere is a fantastic base to explore Cinque Terre, the Gulf of Poets, and even nearby Tuscany. Riomaggiore, the nearest of the Cinque Terre, is a short boat ride away or you can also reach it by hiking along a panoramic trail . Lerici and Tellaro are the other hidden gems of the Italian Riviera that led this bay to be called the Gulf of Poets. Portovenere is only a one-hour drive away from Tuscany’s art cities of Pisa and Lucca, and from the wonderful marble caves that were used by Michelangelo.

What to eat in Portovenere?

Seafood reigns supreme, with delicacies such as ‘ muscoli ’ mussels and oysters that are cultivated right in front of Portovenere. Traditional dishes include fried fish, ‘ scabeccio ’ marinated fish, focaccia, the ‘mesciua ’ legume soup, trofie pasta with pesto…

One of the best restaurants in Portovenere is called Palmaria Restaurant . Here you can try the local cuisine as well as creative dishes prepared with typical ingredients from nearby regions, such as Tuscany and Emilia Romagna.

Are there beaches in Portovenere?

Portovenere has some lovely beaches and bays where you can sunbathe from either the land or a boat. Check out the guides to the Best Beaches in Portovenere and, for more choices nearby, the Best Beaches in the Gulf of Poets .

Best time to visit Portovenere Italy

Like other popular destinations in Italy, Portovenere is the busiest summer, especially in July and August. The best times to visit are April-May-June and September-October. You can learn about seasonal activities in the following articles: Spring Activities and Autumn Activities in Portovenere.

Why is Portovenere a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

UNESCO inscribed Portovenere Italy in its list of World Heritage Sites in 1997, along with Cinque Terre and the Islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto. The reasons are the local cultural landscape of great scenic and cultural value. In particular, this territory captures the continuous history of human settlement over the past millennium, overcoming the disadvantages of the steep and uneven terrain. Learn more on why Portovenere and its islands are a World Heritage Site .

Portofino or Portovenere for a glamorous vacation?

Portofino and Portovenere are two Italian luxury destinations that are similar, yet different. Portofino became famous in the 1950s when rich actors, pop stars and jet setters started visiting it frequently for its luxurious atmosphere. Albeit lesser-known, Portovenere has been a destination for elite tourism for over a century. Discover the differences and similarities in the article “ Portofino and Portovenere: comparing two glamorous destinations “.

Where to stay in Portovenere?

Portovenere is home to the only 5-star hotel in the area of Cinque Terre and La Spezia. Grand Hotel Portovenere is a boutique hotel full of charm and history. The building dates back to the 1600s, and it is recognized as a Dimora Storica. This title is given to ancient buildings that are part of Italy’s historic and cultural heritage. You can learn more about the history of Grand Hotel Portovenere here . Whether you’re visiting Portovenere for a short trip or enjoying an extended luxury vacation, don’t forget to book the best hotel with scenic views to double the enjoyment!

Is Portovenere worth visiting?

If you are still wondering whether it is worth a trip to see Portovenere , read this interview with Debra Levinson, founder of Mr. & Mrs. Italy. You can also discover 9 reasons to visit Portovenere according to Catherine Sabino at Forbes, and why Portovenere is a great alternative to Cinque Terre according to Lonely Planet.

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Album Review: EVERDAWN – Venera

It’s always a pleasure to delve into the symphonic metal realm, and EVERDAWN’s latest offering, “Venera,” doesn’t disappoint. Hailing from the vibrant musical landscape of New Jersey, this female-fronted symphonic metal band has undergone metamorphosis since its inception in 2014 as Midnight Eternal. Now, with a fresh moniker and lineup, EVERDAWN presents a musical journey that’s as enchanting as it is powerful.

The band’s evolution, marked by a change in lineup and the addition of the talented vocalist Alina Gavrilenko , signals a new chapter in their musical odyssey. “Venera,” the band’s third studio album, showcases their growth and ability to craft a sonic experience that’s both melodically rich and emotionally resonant.

The album opens with the hauntingly beautiful “Cassiopeia,” a track that sets the stage for what’s to come. The symphonic elements, soaring guitar solos, and Gavrilenko’s distinctive voice immediately captivate the listener. The storytelling prowess shines through the lyrics, painting a vivid picture of Cassiopeia’s plight. Fan reactions reflect a resounding approval, praising the track’s magnificence and emotional depth.

“Century Black” follows suit, taking us on a journey with its dark, introspective themes. The powerful vocals and intricate arrangements demonstrate EVERDAWN’s ability to navigate through different moods within the symphonic metal spectrum. The fan reactions highlight the captivating nature of Alina Gavrilenko’s vocals, cementing her place as a standout in the genre.

“Silver Lining” introduces a more melancholic tone, beautifully crafted with ethereal melodies. The track showcases the band’s versatility, blending power metal elements with melodic intricacies. The fan responses underline the widespread appeal of this track, earning a spot on many playlists, including workout rotations.

Throughout “Venera,” EVERDAWN maintains a melodic and symphonic signature, reinforced by top-notch production from Jacob Hansen. The album’s artwork, courtesy of Gyula Havancsak, adds a visual dimension, enhancing the overall immersive experience.

The fan reactions are overwhelmingly positive, with praise for the band’s musical prowess, Alina Gavrilenko’s captivating vocals, and the album’s overall promise. From its thematic depth to the technical finesse displayed, “Venera” solidifies EVERDAWN as a force to be reckoned with in the symphonic metal realm.

In conclusion, “Venera” is a testament to EVERDAWN’s artistic evolution and their commitment to delivering a symphonic metal experience that resonates with fans old and new. With each track, the album weaves a captivating narrative, leaving listeners eagerly anticipating the next chapter in EVERDAWN’s musical journey.

Buy or Stream: https://orcd.co/everdawn #FrontiersRecords

I’m Drew, the founder and editor of Front of the Stage. I have a strong love for music and photography, which started at a very young age. There’s just something I love about experiencing live music and capturing memories that will last a lifetime, and that’s how Front of the Stage came to be.

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2023-2024 • 57th season.

• Spring 2024 Concerts PWC Collaborates • Puccini & Wong Puccini’s Messa di Gloria with Golden Gate Men’s Chorus World Premiere of “Night into Dawn” by PWC’s Composer-in-Residence Theresa Wong – Saturday, May 4, 2024 @ 8pm • Mission Santa Clara, Santa Clara – Sunday, May 5, 2024 @ 4pm • Mission Dolores Basilica, San Francisco

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Celebrating the centenary of the 19th Amendment, PWC’s ninth CD features all three pieces that were commissioned for its Trailblazers Project , honoring the achievements of three American women pioneers: abolitionist Harriet Tubman, transgender rights activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, and women’s suffrage leader Alice Paul.

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5 of the Best Silicon Valley Tours

Renowned across the world as the epicentre of tech innovation, Silicon Valley can be discovered by joining a wide choice of guided tours.

(Photo: A Taste of SF Tours, Inc / Courtesy GetYourGuide)

Situated in the southern San Francisco Bay Area of California, and home to some of the world’s most foremost technology companies including Apple, Facebook and Google, Silicon Valley is a popular stopping-off point for people travelling through the wider California region. If you’d like to spend some time exploring the famous tech hotbed, we’ve picked out 5 of the best Silicon Valley tours currently available.

Full-Day Private Tour to Silicon Valley

Learn the unrivalled history of Silicon Valley on this full-day private tour. During the day, you and your select group of family or friends will get to enjoy the cutting-edge modern architecture of Oracle, Facebook, Google, and Apple campuses, see Steve Jobs’ former home, and walk in the footsteps of Stanford’s illustrious alumni on a guided walking tour – all in the company of an expert guide. There’ll also be the chance to visit the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, and sit down to a hearty lunch in one of many restaurants on University Avenue in Palo Alto. The tour price includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, bottled water, museum entrance, and lunch. From $999 per group (max 6 people).

Book at GetYourGuide

Silicon Valley: Self-Drive Audio Tour

(Photo: Action Tour Guide / Courtesy GetYourGuide)

Hop in your car and enjoy this self-guided audio tour of the birthplace of tech at your own pace and with no fixed schedule. Cruise through Silicon Valley while checking out the headquarters of tech giants and learn about the visionaries who’ve shaped the world, from Bill Gates and Steve Jobs to the controversies around Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos and the eccentricities of Elon Musk. All you need to do is get the tour guide app set up on your phone, release that handbrake and head on your way. After being purchased, your audio guide has no expiration date and is valid indefinitely. From $15 per person.

Private Redwood Forest & Silicon Valley Day Trip from San Francisco

Combine a memorable trip to Silicon Valley with a visit to California’s oldest redwood state park on this action-packed full-day tour. Featuring door-to-door service, starting and ending in San Francisco, you’ll spend half the day exploring the famous man-made wonders of Silicon Valley tech capital of the world before making the 50-mile drive southeast to marvel at the jaw-dropping natural beauty of Redwood state park, where 2,000-year old trees rise over 300 feet into the sky. Tours are suitable for everyone, including families with children. From $579 per group (max 2 people).

Book at Viator

Silicon Valley Private 2-Hour Driving Tour

(Photo: Jitze Couperus via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Want to see Silicon Valley but are tight for time? This whistle-stop two-hour private driving tour complete with audio guide may well fit the bill. After collection from your hotel in a comfortable vehicle, you’ll head off to see the area in quick-smart fashion, getting to know the stories, legends and landmarks of Silicon Valley as you visit sites including the Googleplex, Apple Park Visitor’s Center and the Hewlett Packard Garage.  Let your driver do the work while you kick back and listen to audio narrated by local legend Matt Chatta. The set-up allows you to listen on your own schedule, so you can pause if you want to take a break or explore further. From $51 per group (max 5 people).

Half-Day Silicon Valley Tour Private Day Trip from San Francisco

If there’s a Silicon Valley landmark that you’re particularly keen to visit, then this fully customisable five-hour private tour might well be for you. The trip puts you in touch with the pioneering work of global communications, computing and biotech companies and their impact on the region. Starting with pick-up in San Francisco, you’ll travel in the comfort of a private vehicle to the South Bay, learning from your personal guide how Silicon Valley has revolutionised the way our world works. The tour price includes your private driver and guide, pick-up and drop-off, bottled water and snacks. From $577 per group (max 6 people)

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‘Criminal Conspiracy’ Alleged as Jury Starts Hearing Trump Trial

Court adjourned for the day after opening statements from both sides and the start of testimony from the longtime publisher of The National Enquirer. A lawyer for Donald Trump told jurors the former president did nothing illegal.

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Follow our live coverage of Trump’s hush money trial in Manhattan.

Jesse McKinley and Kate Christobek

Five takeaways from the fifth day of Trump’s criminal trial.

Monday marked another key moment in the criminal trial of Donald J. Trump: opening statements, during which the former president listened quietly to the prosecution’s allegations of crimes, and the defense’s counterargument that he was a simple man, wrongly accused.

The jury that will decide Mr. Trump’s case concentrated intently on the statements, which began the presentation of what will be weeks of testimony and other evidence, all in a tense courtroom in Lower Manhattan.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee once more, Mr. Trump, 77, is charged with falsifying 34 business records in an attempt to cover up a payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, in the days before the 2016 election. Ms. Daniels, who may testify, says that she and Mr. Trump had a sexual encounter in 2006, a claim the former president denies.

Mr. Trump has also denied the 34 felony charges, calling them orchestrated by Democrats; if convicted, the former president could face probation or up to four years in prison.

Here are five takeaways from Mr. Trump’s fifth day on trial:

The prosecution has a big story to tell.

The charges faced by Mr. Trump may sound bland — “falsifying business records” doesn’t really set the heart racing — but the prosecution made clear on Monday that it plans on painting a much broader picture.

Matthew Colangelo, a prosecutor, laid out in his opening statement a tale that touched on tabloid journalism , tawdry affairs and covertly recorded phone calls . Jurors will likely be told about events inside fancy hotel rooms, Trump Tower and even the Oval Office. And the stakes? The presidency.

All that suggests that the case will keep jurors wide-awake during the six or so weeks it is projected to take. Indeed, when asked if they wanted paper and pens to take notes, more than half of the people in the jury box (12 jurors and six alternates) raised their hands.

Who Are Key Players in the Trump Manhattan Criminal Trial?

The first criminal trial of former President Donald J. Trump is underway. Take a closer look at central figures related to the case.

The defense wants to destroy prosecution witnesses.

Mr. Trump’s lead lawyer, Todd Blanche, used his opening statement to cast Mr. Trump’s actions leading to this case as run-of-the-mill business, and said that Mr. Trump is defending himself at trial, just as “any of us would do.”

He argued that the use of a nondisclosure agreement — the document Ms. Daniels signed after receiving the payment — was typical among the wealthy and the famous and “nothing illegal.” He continued that there was nothing wrong with trying to influence an election, adding: “It’s called democracy.”

Mr. Blanche also attacked Mr. Cohen, a former lawyer and fixer for Mr. Trump. He said Mr. Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance crimes in 2018, was a “criminal” who “can’t be trusted.” He added that Ms. Daniels was “biased” against Mr. Trump and made a living off her story about the sexual encounter.

He called the heart of the prosecution case just “34 pieces of paper” that don’t involve Mr. Trump.

Trump was muted during the abbreviated day in court.

On Mr. Trump’s way into the courtroom on Monday, he addressed reporters for about three minutes and blasted a range of perceived enemies, including New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, and the judge in a recent civil fraud case that resulted in a $454 million judgment against him.

But Mr. Trump’s behavior during opening statements reflected that he understood the gravity of the moment.

Mr. Trump made no outbursts during the prosecution’s opening statement, although he occasionally showed displeasure: He shook his head slightly at arguments that he orchestrated a scheme to corrupt the presidential election and then more strenuously when prosecutors said he was guilty of felonies.

During his own side’s opening statement, Mr. Trump sat largely motionless and expressionless watching his lawyer Mr. Blanche. Mr. Trump’s behavior was muted compared with his volatility during past Manhattan court appearances.

But at the conclusion of the trial day, Mr. Trump took his preferred spot in front of a television camera in the hallway, and spoke for more than nine minutes, attacking the prosecutor’s case — once again — as unfair.

David Pecker used to live on celebrity news. Now, he is the news.

Prosecutors’ first witness was David Pecker, the longtime publisher of The National Enquirer . He ambled to the stand and promptly gave a lesson in the ways of tabloid journalism, including the purchasing of articles — anything more than $10,000, he had to approve — and the significance of putting a famous face right out front.

“The only thing that was important is the cover of a magazine,” Mr. Pecker testified.

In about 30 minutes of testimony, Mr. Pecker also laid out trade secrets on sourcing, saying hotel workers and limo drivers could be a font of information on the rich and famous.

He seemed at ease: laughing at a prosecutor’s jokes, and sometimes directly addressing the jury just a few feet away.

We’re moving right along.

Over the past five trial days, the judge overseeing the case, Juan M. Merchan, has shown that he is eager to keep this trial on schedule. He seems serious about keeping his word to the jurors that the trial will last six weeks.

On Monday, truncated by a juror’s dental emergency and the Passover holiday, he decided to start with the first witness — Mr. Pecker — despite having only half an hour left on his schedule.

On Tuesday, the court will first consider a prosecution motion to hold Mr. Trump in contempt over recent comments that they say violated a gag order meant to keep him from attacking participants in the trial and their families.

Then, Mr. Pecker will continue on the stand, probably diving deeper into the “catch-and-kill” scheme used to buy up — and cover up — unflattering stories, a central element of the prosecution’s narrative.

Court will end early again, at 2 p.m., for further observance of Passover and then will have its weekly Wednesday break.

But there is little indication that as the weeks pass, Justice Merchan will let the pace slacken.

Jonah E. Bromwich and Kate Christobek

The opening statements gave a preview of how the two sides will present the case.

The Manhattan district attorney’s office and lawyers for Donald J. Trump presented opening statements to jurors on Monday, with prosecutors accusing the former president of entering a criminal conspiracy while the defense sought to discredit two key witnesses.

A prosecutor, Matthew Colangelo, began by telling jurors that Mr. Trump had conspired with his former fixer, Michael D. Cohen, and the publisher of The National Enquirer, David Pecker, to conceal damaging stories during his 2016 campaign.

“This case is about a criminal conspiracy and a cover-up,” Mr. Colangelo said, telling a story about a hush-money payment to a porn star and insisting that the former president was ultimately responsible.

In the end, Mr. Colangelo said, there would be “only one conclusion: Donald Trump is guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.”

Immediately after Mr. Colangelo’s presentation, Mr. Trump’s lead lawyer, Todd Blanche, directly disagreed, insisting that the jury acquit the former president. Mr. Trump, he said, had engaged in actions that were legal and normal.

“President Trump did not commit any crimes,” Mr. Blanche told the jury, using the former president’s preferred form of address. The lawyer told jurors that Mr. Trump had earned the right to be referred to as “president” and reminded them that he was the presumptive Republican nominee.

Mr. Blanche argued that there was nothing illegal about nondisclosure agreements, which he said companies, the wealthy and the famous all use frequently. And, he said, prosecutors were wrong to suggest something criminal about Mr. Trump’s efforts to win the White House.

“I have a spoiler alert: There’s nothing wrong with trying to influence an election,” Mr. Blanche said. “It’s called democracy.”

Mr. Blanche asserted that Mr. Cohen, a key prosecution witness, was paid for legal services, and he attempted to undermine Mr. Cohen’s credibility. Mr. Blanche called Mr. Cohen a “criminal” who “can’t be trusted” and suggested that he was testifying only because he didn’t get a job in the Trump administration.

He also took aim at Stormy Daniels, the former porn star who claimed she had sex with Mr. Trump, characterizing her as an opportunist who had used a brief encounter with Mr. Trump related to his reality show, “The Apprentice,” to make huge sums of money.

He added that Ms. Daniels was “biased” against the former president and made a living off her story about the sexual encounter.

Mr. Blanche also sought to minimize the charges, saying the records at the heart of the case were just “34 pieces of paper” that the former president had nothing to do with.

Mr. Trump is accused of falsifying business records — which is a felony if prosecutors can show the records were altered with an intent to commit or conceal a second crime.

A year ago, when the former president was formally charged with 34 felonies, the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, told reporters that he did not have to specify what the second crime was, and listed three options. During opening statements, Mr. Colangelo made it clear he believed that the strongest case relied on one of those options: convincing jurors that Mr. Trump concealed the violation of a state law that forbids “conspiracy to promote or prevent an election.”

Justice Juan M. Merchan

Presiding Judge

Trump Lawyer

David Pecker

Former Publisher of The National Enquirer

Michael Cohen

Former Trump Lawyer and “Fixer”

Stormy Daniels

Porn Director, Producer and Actress

Karen McDougal

Former Playboy Model

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There’s some good news for people who want to follow the Trump trial in detail, but can’t make it to the courthouse. The New York state court system has just agreed to publish a transcript of each day’s proceeding by the end of the following day on its website. You can find the daily transcripts here .

Olivia Bensimon

Trump’s motorcade left the courthouse just after 1:05 p.m., wrapping up the trial’s first day of testimony. The view was blocked by an N.Y.P.D. dump truck, to many reporters’ great frustration. Inside Collect Pond Park, across from the courthouse, a lone pro-Trump protester’s “Trump for President ’24” banner flaps meekly in the light breeze.

Jonah Bromwich

The charges against Trump, which accuse him of falsifying records, are felonies because prosecutors say he sought to conceal another crime. Prosecutors had said before the trial that they had a menu of three crimes to choose from. The one they emphasized most strongly today is a violation of state election law: “conspiracy to promote election.” It’s not one of the actual charges, but they say it was baked into the overall crime.

And its worth emphasizing that when the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, was first asked about this, at a news conference directly after Trump was formally charged, he said that prosecutors did not have to specify which crime they were alleging Trump concealed. But today, Colangelo took the opposite tack: hitting the word “conspiracy” again and again.

William Rashbaum

With the trial now underway, here’s the People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump by the numbers: The case was born as “Investigation No. 2018-00403803 – Investigation Into the Business Affairs of John Doe.” That’s how the Manhattan district attorney’s office identified the six-year inquiry that led to today’s proceedings, with the number and name appearing on subpoenas and the correspondence case. Arrest No. M23613757 was given to Mr. Trump when he surrendered last year on April 4. And when the former president was arraigned later that day, his indictment was given a Docket Number, IND-71543-23, which the court system uses to track the case.

Nate Schweber

A courthouse park becomes a stage, and a sideshow, outside Trump’s trial.

Andrew Giuliani, the son of Donald J. Trump’s former lawyer and a regular strutting presence on the periphery of the courthouse where the former president is on trial, posed for photos inside Collect Pond Park.

Grinning and wearing a campaign jacket, Mr. Giuliani, who has made a career as a right-wing media figure, hugged supporters of Mr. Trump on Monday. From one, he borrowed a flag with Mr. Trump’s face that promotes him for president in 2024.

“Two-thousand twenty-four years in prison!” taunted Ricky Caballero, 56, from Brooklyn. “He owes your dad money. Why you out here supporting him?”

Mr. Caballero wore a tank top with a Puerto Rican flag. He said that was his heritage, and that he remembers watching Mr. Trump lob paper towels at survivors of Hurricane Maria in 2017. Mr. Caballero said he was still furious.

Mr. Giuliani circulated like a celebrity among Mr. Trump’s supporters and ignored Mr. Caballero.

It was one of a number of loud exchanges between supporters and detractors of Mr. Trump that were noticeably monitored by the police. There were no police in the park on Friday, when a man amid a mental health crisis burned himself to death in an anti-government protest.

On Monday, there were six community affairs officers and six regular uniformed officers watching closely for trouble.

At one point, the sound of the national anthem wafted through the park, courtesy of the flute-playing activist Marc Crawford Leavitt.

“I’m just playing and no one can argue with my playing patriotic songs,” he said, a sign decrying Trump as a liar hanging around his neck.

Anusha Bayya contributed reporting.

The judge leaves the stand. We are done with the jurors’ first day of trial.

Trump looks angry as he leaves the courtroom, again patting the bench behind him on the way out. His eyes scan over the reporters seated in the gallery as he goes.

The defense just told us that they did not learn who would be testifying first for the prosecution until about 3 p.m. yesterday. Prosecutors had declined to tell them earlier, given that Trump has made something of a habit of attacking witnesses.

I’m again struck at just how quickly we went today. We started late, and by the end of a very short day had finished both opening statements and started in on our first witness. This trial was expected to last six weeks. It may end even more quickly.

Jesse McKinley

A short day, but we got a sense of the details that the prosecution intends to offer in its case, and the contours of the defense. David Pecker was just starting, and will continue tomorrow at 11 a.m. There’s a hearing on possible gag order violations by Trump tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m.

Maggie Haberman

Pecker is dismissed from the stand. We expect him back tomorrow.

Justice Merchan tells the jurors about the schedule and asks them, as he will before they leave the courtroom each time, not to discuss the case with anyone and not to read about it. He asks them to put it out of their minds.

Pecker greets someone at the defense table politely as he leaves the room. It’s not clear who.

As he answers Steinglass's questions, Pecker sometimes speaks directly to him, but other times he directs his comments to the jurors. Right now he's describing the types of people tabloids typically use as sources: hotel workers, limo drivers, lawyers.

Trump’s lawyers have sought to cast the tabloid that Pecker presided over as a media company like any other. But Pecker’s comment that they practiced “checkbook journalism,” and his description of their editorial practices, may undermine that argument, as we continue to hear about how the publication operated.

Checkbook journalism is one of the things that sets supermarket tabloids apart from more traditional news outlets.

Kate Christobek

Trump is leaning on the defense table as he listens to Pecker’s testimony. As Pecker talks about the editor meetings, Trump passes notes to two of his lawyers before glaring up at Pecker on the witness stand.

Steinglass has a banter going with Pecker as he asks Pecker to recount his work cell phone number at the time.

That may seem small but it’s important — it’s a good bet that those numbers will come up when evidence is presented.

Steinglass gets a loud cackle from Pecker while asking him his phone numbers. “This isn’t a quiz,” Steinglass says.

As Pecker begins to describe The National Enquirer's editor meetings, it again strikes me that these jurors have a really entertaining case before them. They will be taken into a lot of different environments — these editorial meetings, the Trump campaign and the Trump White House, and small meetings of New York operators in which, prosecutors will argue, the history of the country was shaped.

Jurors appear to be taking copious notes.

“We used checkbook journalism, and we paid for stories,” Pecker says of his time at The National Enquirer. Steinglass, the prosecutor, asks him whether he had "final say" over editorial decisions. Anything over $10,000 for a story, Pecker says, had to be approved by him.

Pecker says in his experience, the only thing that’s important “is the cover” of a magazine.

Michael Rothfeld

A look at how tabloids used ‘catch-and-kill’ to trade on the secrets of celebrities.

“Catch-and-kill” is a term coined by old-time tabloid editors for buying the exclusive rights to stories, or “catching” them, for the specific purpose of ensuring the information never becomes public. That’s the “killing” part.

Why would anyone want to spend money on a story that it never intends to publish? In the world of tabloid journalism, where ethical lines are blurry, deciding what to publish and why is often a calculus that covers favors doled out and chits called in.

David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, who also oversaw other tabloids such as Star and lifestyle publications such as Men’s Fitness, was a master of the technique , according to people who have worked for him.

In 2003, Mr. Pecker’s company, American Media Inc., bought several muscle magazines founded by a mentor of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilding legend and movie star. When Mr. Schwarzenegger, who was often featured in those magazines, jumped into the recall election to replace California’s governor, Mr. Pecker ordered his staff to buy up negative stories about him in order to protect his investment, former employees said.

Staff members called it “the David Pecker Project.” American Media paid $20,000 to a former mistress of Mr. Schwarzenegger so that she would not speak about their affair — though news of it had previously been published. The company paid another $1,000 to her friend and $2,000 to a man who had a video of Mr. Schwarzenegger dancing lewdly in Rio de Janeiro 20 years earlier. Mr. Schwarzenegger was elected governor.

Mr. Pecker’s publications made deals with other celebrities as well, though not always for money. He traded away dirt about the golfer Tiger Woods in exchange for an exclusive interview in Men’s Fitness in 2007, according to people with knowledge of that episode.

And, according to the prosecutors in the Manhattan trial of Donald J. Trump, Mr. Pecker employed “catch-and-kill” tactics in the 2016 presidential election, paying a doorman and a Playboy model to suppress negative stories about Mr. Trump and boost the candidacy of his longtime associate.

The Links Between Trump and 3 Hush-Money Deals

Here’s how key figures involved in making hush-money payoffs on behalf of Donald J. Trump are connected.

Justice Merchan has shown so far that he is eager to keep this trial on schedule. Court will be adjourned for the day in less than a half an hour, but yet the judge has chosen to start the first witness. He seems serious about keeping his word to the jurors that the trial will last six weeks.

What will be interesting about Pecker’s testimony, if it goes as opening statements suggested it would, is that he won’t really be describing Trump’s involvement in any actual criminal activity. Rather, he will serve as a tour guide to the seamy way in which Trump used The National Enquirer to his political advantage — a storytelling point on the way to alleged criminal activity.

And yet, prosecutors have framed Pecker’s involvement here as part of a “conspiracy.” This could be a risk for them — conspiracy is not one of the charged crimes. And this jury has at least two lawyers.

Who is David Pecker, the trial’s first witness?

The first witness in Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial is David Pecker, who was the publisher of The National Enquirer, and had traded favors with Mr. Trump since the 1990s.

Mr. Pecker, who was sometimes referred to as the “tabloid king,” had long used his publications to curry favor with Mr. Trump and other celebrities, in exchange for tips or for business reasons. Staff members called Mr. Trump, like other favored stars who were off limits, an “F.O.P.” — “Friend of Pecker.”

Mr. Trump and Mr. Pecker, along with Mr. Trump’s former fixer Michael D. Cohen, hatched a plan in August 2015 to boost his upstart presidential campaign, prosecutors say. The former Trump allies are each expected to take a turn on the witness stand, giving testimony that could help make him the first president convicted of a felony.

Prosecutors for Alvin L. Bragg , the Manhattan district attorney, will try to show that the hush money payment to a porn star at the center of the trial was part of a larger effort to suppress negative news about Mr. Trump to sway the election. That scheme, they will contend, includes two other deals, both involving Mr. Pecker.

Mr. Trump had announced his presidential campaign in June 2015. The plan the men laid out two months later was simple, according to court documents, interviews with people involved in the events or familiar with them, private communications and other records.

Mr. Pecker would use The Enquirer to publish positive stories about Mr. Trump’s campaign and negative stories about his rivals. He would alert Mr. Trump, through Mr. Cohen, when The Enquirer learned of stories that might threaten Mr. Trump. The Enquirer could buy the rights to those stories in order to suppress them, a practice known in the tabloid world as “catch and kill.”

In late 2015, Mr. Pecker’s company paid $30,000 to suppress a claim by a former doorman at a Trump building who said he had heard Mr. Trump fathered a child out of wedlock — a rumor that was apparently untrue.

Then in August 2016, The Enquirer’s parent company paid $150,000 to a former Playboy model, Karen McDougal, to keep her account of an affair with Mr. Trump quiet. Two months later, Mr. Pecker and The Enquirer’s editor helped Mr. Cohen negotiate a $130,000 hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels, the former porn star who also said she had sex with Mr. Trump. He has denied both women’s claims.

Mr. Cohen pleaded guilty to federal campaign finance crimes in 2018.

The Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc., made a deal that year to avoid federal prosecution, acknowledging that it had illegally tried to influence the election .

Merchan stops testimony, says he realizes jurors weren’t given writing materials to take notes. At least 10 raise their hands when asked if they’d like some.

This jury is an attentive crew, if the number of note-takers is any indication.

Joshua Steinglass, a prosecutor, will question Pecker. He begins by asking him how old he is, apologizing for asking the question. Pecker is 72, married for 36 years. He begins to talk about his biography, starting with his educational background.

David Pecker is the first witness for the prosecution, and their choice looks to be a good one for them. The National Enquirer’s master of “Catch and Kill,” he was part of the conspiracy that Colangelo described in his opening statement, working with Trump and Cohen to bury negative stories about Trump and publish negative ones about his rivals. He’s expected to tell the jury about his conversations with Trump and Cohen about killing the bad stories, including the one about Stormy Daniels. And he’ll provide much of the broad arc of the case – and the motive — corroborating elements of Cohen’s expected testimony along the way.

The judge instructs the people to call their first witness and as expected, they call David Pecker.

With opening statements and a witness, we are squeezing a full day into this half day. Pecker enters. He’s got a trim white mustache and is wearing a grey suit. His grey hair hits his collar. He heads to the witness stand and is sworn in with his hand raised.

Pecker has aged considerably over the last several years. He spells his name and gives his place of residence.

Trump has some support from a group of his lawyers — Alan Garten, the Trump Organization general counsel is here, and the pool reporters saw Alina Habba and Chris Kise in the hallway.

Meet the team defending Donald J. Trump in his criminal trial.

Donald J. Trump has assembled a team of defense lawyers with extensive experience representing people charged with white-collar crimes to defend him against the charges filed by the Manhattan district attorney’s office. Some have worked for Mr. Trump for years. Others are more recent additions, but are involved in the former president’s broader legal defense, also representing him in other criminal cases.

Here’s a look at Mr. Trump’s defense team:

Todd Blanche

Mr. Blanche started representing Mr. Trump last year, leaving a prestigious position as a partner at Wall Street’s oldest law firm to take him on as a client. He is also representing Mr. Trump in his federal classified documents case in Florida and his federal election interference case in Washington.

Mr. Blanche has also represented Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s former campaign chairman, as well as Boris Epshteyn, an adviser to Mr. Trump. Before turning to private practice, Mr. Blanche was a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, where he supervised violent-crime cases.

Susan Necheles

Ms. Necheles has been a lawyer for Mr. Trump since 2021 and represented the Trump Organization during its criminal tax fraud trial in Manhattan. The business was convicted of 17 felonies and ordered by Justice Juan M. Merchan to pay the maximum penalty of $1.6 million.

Ms. Necheles previously represented defendants in major organized-crime and public-corruption cases, including Venero Mangano, the Genovese crime family underboss who was known as Benny Eggs.

Mr. Bove, the newest addition to Mr. Trump’s legal team, is a legal partner to Mr. Blanche. He is a former federal prosecutor for the Southern District of New York who turned to private practice and now represents defendants charged with white-collar crimes.

Gedalia Stern

Mr. Stern is a law partner to Ms. Necheles and also defended the Trump Organization in its criminal tax-fraud trial. He has previous experience representing clients charged with bribery, fraud and conspiracy.

If Trump testifies, he can be grilled about cases he lost and gag order violations.

The judge in Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial ruled on Monday morning that prosecutors could ask the former president about a range of previous cases that he has lost, as well as past violations of gag orders, in the event that he decides to testify in his defense.

Among other cases, the ruling by the judge, Juan M. Merchan, would allow prosecutors to question Mr. Trump about the civil fraud case brought by the New York attorney general, Letitia James, in which the former president was found to have inflated his net worth to obtain favorable loans. That case resulted in a $454 million judgment against Mr. Trump .

Justice Merchan will also allow the Manhattan district attorney’s office — which brought the case against Mr. Trump — to question him about civil cases brought by the writer E. Jean Carroll. Those cases found that Mr. Trump was liable for sexually abusing and defaming Ms. Carroll in the first instance and for defamation in the second. (Justice Merchan did not mention the sexual abuse finding, only the defamation, in his ruling regarding the Carroll cases on Monday.)

Justice Merchan will also let prosecutors ask about Mr. Trump’s attack on a law clerk in a civil fraud case , in violation of a gag order, as well as a 2018 decision that led to the dissolution of the Donald J. Trump Foundation to resolve a case brought by the New York attorney general at the time , Barbara Underwood, over financial irregularities.

The former president suggested in early April that he would testify in the criminal trial , saying that prosecutors “have no case.” That said, Mr. Trump has promised to testify in previous cases only to back out, and Justice Merchan’s decision could change his thinking on such a maneuver.

Justice Merchan said that, in the event that Mr. Trump did testify, he would give jurors “careful and specific” instructions about the scope of prosecutors’ queries, adding that he had “greatly curtailed” what specifics could be the target of questions.

However, Justice Merchan warned Mr. Trump that his ruling was “a shield and not a sword” and that the former president’s testimony could open “the door to questioning that has otherwise been excluded.”

Mr. Trump is being tried on charges that he falsified business records to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. He has denied the charges.

Meet the team prosecuting Donald J. Trump.

The Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, has assembled an accomplished team to take on perhaps the most high-profile case in his office’s history: the first criminal trial against former President Donald J. Trump. The group includes veteran prosecutors and former white-collar criminal defense lawyers who have extensive experience going up against Mr. Trump.

Here’s a look at the prosecution team:

Joshua Steinglass, Senior Trial Counsel

Mr. Steinglass, who has served as an assistant district attorney since 1998, is a recent addition to this case; in 2022 he helped lead the team that secured a conviction against the Trump Organization for conspiracy, criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records. He typically prosecutes significant violent crimes, such as a violent brawl on the Upper East Side that led to the conviction of two Proud Boy extremists in 2019.

Susan Hoffinger, Chief of the Investigations Division

After starting her career at the Manhattan district attorney’s office, Ms. Hoffinger founded her own firm and spent 20 years as a defense lawyer focusing on white-collar criminal defense. She rejoined the district attorney’s office in 2022 and worked with Mr. Steinglass to obtain the conviction of the Trump Organization in its criminal tax fraud trial.

Christopher Conroy, Senior Adviser to Investigations Division

A prosecutor for 28 years, Mr. Conroy previously led the Manhattan district attorney’s office’s major economic crimes unit, where he was involved in the prosecution of the bankrupt law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf and supervised investigations into multinational financial institutions for falsification of business records. Mr. Conroy is the longest serving member of this trial team.

Matthew Colangelo, Senior Counsel to the District Attorney

Mr. Colangelo joined the district attorney’s office in 2022 after serving for two years as a senior official at the U.S. Department of Justice. He previously worked for the New York attorney general’s office, where he oversaw the investigation into the Trump Foundation, which led to its dissolution . He was also, for a time, one of the lead lawyers on the civil fraud inquiry into Mr. Trump.

Rebecca Mangold, Assistant District Attorney

Before joining Mr. Bragg’s major economic crimes unit in 2022, Ms. Mangold clerked for a U.S. District Court judge in New Jersey and worked in private practice for over 10 years. As a partner at the law firm Kobre & Kim, Ms. Mangold focused on criminal and regulatory investigations related to financial misconduct.

Katherine Ellis, Assistant District Attorney

Ms. Ellis joined the Manhattan district attorney’s office in 2018 after working as an associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. Before becoming a lawyer, Ms. Ellis worked as a legal analyst at Goldman Sachs, the investment bank.

Ben Protess and Alan Feuer

The landmark case won’t play out in front of TV cameras.

The Manhattan criminal trial of Donald J. Trump will be closely followed around the world. But you will not be able to watch the proceedings on TV.

There will be no video feed aired live from the courtroom. Nor will there be an audio feed, as some federal courts allow.

New York courts generally do not permit video to be broadcast from courtrooms, although a feed is being transmitted into an overflow room for the reporters covering the trial. And cameras will be stationed in the hallway outside the courtroom to capture Mr. Trump’s remarks as he enters and leaves.

Shortly after court adjourned on Monday, the state’s chief administrative judge, Joseph A. Zayas, issued a statement saying that transcripts of each day of the trial would be published online by the end of the following day on the court system’s website .

Judge Zayas was responding to a request for public transcripts filed last week by a New York lawyer, Jim Walden, on behalf of a civic group and the news website New York Focus.

“With current law restricting the broadcasting of trial proceedings and courtroom space for public spectators very limited, the release of the daily transcripts on the court system’s website is the best way to provide the public a direct view of the proceedings in this historic trial,” Judge Zayas wrote in his statement.

Court will be in session, for the most part, every weekday except Wednesdays, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., until the trial ends.

Jonah E. Bromwich and Ben Protess

Here’s the latest in the trial.

Prosecutors in the first criminal trial of an American president began laying out their case for a jury of 12 New Yorkers on Monday, saying Donald J. Trump engaged in a conspiracy to cover up a sex scandal in order to get elected president in 2016.

The first witness called was the tabloid publisher David Pecker, whom prosecutors described as one member of a three-man plot to conceal damaging stories — including a porn star’s account of a sexual tryst — as Mr. Trump mounted his bid for the presidency.

Mr. Pecker was on the stand for only a few minutes in the afternoon before court adjourned for the day. He described how his publication, The National Enquirer, paid for stories, a practice he called “checkbook journalism.” He is expected to return to the stand on Tuesday.

Matthew Colangelo, one of the prosecutors for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, told the jury in his opening statement that the case was about “a criminal conspiracy and a coverup,” describing how Mr. Trump, his longtime counsel Michael D. Cohen, and Mr. Pecker engaged in a strategy to “catch and kill” negative stories.

The lead lawyer for Mr. Trump, Todd Blanche, insisted in his opening statement that the former president had done nothing wrong. “President Trump is innocent,” he told the jury. “President Trump did not commit any crimes.”

The case centers on a $130,000 hush-money payment that Mr. Cohen made to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, to buy her silence as the 2016 campaign was winding down. Prosecutors say he was reimbursed by Mr. Trump, and Mr. Trump falsified business records to conceal his conduct.

Mr. Colangelo said the payment to Ms. Daniels came on the heels of another scandal — the “Access Hollywood” tape, on which Mr. Trump bragged about groping women. Ms. Daniels’s account, he said, “could have been devastating to his campaign.”

He added, “With pressure mounting and Election Day fast approaching, Donald Trump agreed to the payoff and directed Cohen to proceed.”

Mr. Cohen, who was an executive vice president at the Trump Organization and counsel to Mr. Trump, and Mr. Pecker are expected to be central witnesses.

Mr. Blanche attacked Mr. Cohen’s credibility, saying that his livelihood hinges on attacking the former president, and insisted that prosecutors were attempting to present perfectly legal activities, such as entering into nondisclosure agreements, in a negative light.

He continued: “They put something sinister on this idea as if it were a crime. You’ll learn it’s not.”

Here’s what else to know about the trial:

The Manhattan criminal case against Mr. Trump was unveiled a year ago by the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg. Mr. Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and if convicted could face up to four years in prison . Those are felonies because prosecutors say Mr. Trump sought to conceal another crime. On Monday, they strongly emphasized a violation of state election law — conspiracy to promote election — that is not one of the actual charges, but they say is baked into the overall crime.

The case is the former president’s first criminal trial, although he has been indicted three other times in three other cities. With those other cases tied up in appeals and other delays, the Manhattan case may be the only one he faces before the 2024 presidential election. The trial is expected to last six weeks.

Before opening statements, the judge overseeing the case delivered a crucial ruling that determined what prosecutors can question Mr. Trump about should he decide to take the stand in his own defense. The ruling, a significant victory for prosecutors that might prompt Mr. Trump to decide not to testify, allows them to question him about several recent losses he suffered in unrelated civil trials, including a fraud case this year in which the former president was found liable for conspiring to manipulate his net worth and was penalized $454 million.

The jury was drawn from a pool of residents of Manhattan, where Mr. Trump is deeply unpopular; during jury selection, dozens of prospective jurors were excused because they said they could not be impartial. But the jurors who were selected each pledged to decide the case based only on the facts. Read more about them.

The case will receive vast media attention, but the proceedings won’t be shown on television .

Dismissed prospective jurors describe intense days in a glaring spotlight.

The two Manhattan residents were led into the courtroom to fulfill a foundational civic duty: to be interviewed as prospective jurors.

But in the room when they arrived was a defendant, Donald J. Trump, unlike any in American history.

Both would-be jurors, a man and a woman, were eventually excused. But the experience thrust them into the spotlight in a way they never had imagined.

One was challenged by Mr. Trump’s lawyers over his past social media posts relating to the former president. The other has a medical practice that she could not shut for six weeks while serving on the jury.

While they were not chosen as jurors, their experiences illustrate the intensity of the attention focused on Mr. Trump’s trial — and on the first jury to ever weigh the fate of a former United States president in a criminal proceeding.

Both contacted The New York Times only after they were excused from serving. Though the court’s rules protecting prospective jurors’ identities end when they are dismissed from serving, The Times is withholding their names and most identifying characteristics about them.

Like the other prospective jurors who were considered, both included detailed personal information on the juror questionnaires they filled out, including where they work.

They were made to answer those questions by speaking into a microphone in open court; soon, both were blindsided as details of their lives ricocheted around the internet. They said they were frustrated that so much attention was devoted to prospective jurors and ascertaining information about them.

While they later learned that the judge in the case, Justice Juan M. Merchan, had ordered the redaction of some of the information jurors were ordered to reveal publicly, they felt that he had acted too late. As with many things connected to the trial, the rhythms and even some of the parameters are being written in real time.

Their experiences mirrored some that other prospective jurors who were dismissed have described. One, a man who gave his name as Mark to NBC News, said he had “satirized Mr. Trump often in my artwork,” and because of that, he had expected not to be chosen.

A woman who gave her name as Kara, who said the nature of her job made serving extremely difficult, told NBC News that she realized the gravity of serving on any criminal jury, but particularly this one.

Seeing Mr. Trump in person, she said, was “very jarring.” He was, she realized, just “another guy.”

One of the prospective jurors who spoke with The Times, the man, did not immediately realize what case he was involved in when he was led into the courtroom on the 15th floor of the Manhattan criminal courthouse. The woman had a sense a week earlier, having read a news story about the trial beginning the week she was supposed to respond to a juror summons.

The man, sitting a few rows behind the prosecutors’ table when the two were part of the first panel of 96 prospective jurors brought into the courtroom Monday afternoon, felt a sense of calm about five minutes into being there. Trump was simply a defendant, he thought. It was a business-records trial. Prosecutors were on one side, the defense lawyers on the other.

The woman was struck by the fact that Mr. Trump stood and waved to prospective jurors, she said, as he and his lawyers were introduced to the group. It felt more to her like the behavior of a campaigning candidate than of a criminal defendant. (Mr. Trump, of course, is both.)

Both were put off by efforts by Mr. Trump’s lead lawyer, Todd Blanche, to assess prospective jurors’ views of Mr. Trump. The man said Mr. Blanche seemed “folksy” in a way he found disingenuous, while the woman was sharper, describing a “witch hunt” to root out people sympathetic to Democrats on the panel — a phrase Mr. Trump uses often to criticize the various prosecutors investigating his conduct.

The man in particular was frustrated that he was asked about past social media posts in which he had been critical of Mr. Trump, which Mr. Blanche’s team raised and which Justice Merchan ultimately agreed meant the man should be excused.

The man believed he could have been fair and resented the implication that he could not have been. Both he and the woman, who said they believed in the system of jury service, noted that they had begun the day taking sworn oaths vowing to render a fair and impartial judgment on the evidence. The man believed his own views — especially views from years ago — had no bearing on his ability to judge the evidence. If anything, he said, he would have been hyper-conscious in doing so.

Both had realized the magnitude of what serving on that jury would mean.

But they were also conscious of the threats and blowback that could come with weighing evidence against Mr. Trump — particularly with their personal details traceable in public. And both had concerns about being chosen because of that; the man in particular said his spouse had been worried.

Both would have valued being part of the historic trial. But both also had a sense of relief that they were not picked.