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Yeah what a wild concept, right? We have yet to check it out. There's supposed to be an artists' open house in a couple of weeks, which I'd like to attend.
Yes, they have open houses in the spring and fall. I'd like to attend, but it always is scheduled when I have something else planned. The next one is the weekend of June 1-2, and of course I'm going to be away.
If they had a piece of land like this nowadays, it would probably be turned into another strip mall. The whole idea of turning it into an art park with cheap studios for artists would never happen.
Anyway, in May 2011 we visited Riker Hill Art Park and I took some photos. I like the wildness part of it:
The other interesting curiosity in the Riker Hill section is the Boiardo Mansion on Beauford Ave., not far from Riker Hill Art Park. It belonged to famous Prohibition-era mafioso Rugierro (aka Richard) Boiardo, aka "Richie The Boot". The gated entrance to the estate is on Beauford Ave. (You can't see the mansion from the street, so here are a few pics from a feature that LIFE magazine did in the late 60s/early 70s). The Boiardo estate has a colorful history with some urban legend attached. Rumor has it that peacocks once roamed the property which also had a guest house, pool, drive-in movie theater, statues, a network of underground tunnels, and a crematorium on the premises (where Richie The Boot would dispose of his enemies, but that part's probably definitely urban legend). The story that gets printed a lot about this place is that one day a mom driving a station wagon full of cub scouts drove up to the gate thinking it was the entrance to Riker Hill Park and was told threateningly by the armed guards at the gate to leave. The estate is now owned by a Dr. Boiardo (some kind of famous knee surgeon, or something) who has nothing to do with the original crime family.
This is not true. I work with Dr. Richard Boiardo from time to time. First of all, he is an orthopedic surgeon, but I would hardly call him "famous". But I guess that is arguable. Secondly, he is the grandson of Richie the boot. Or at least that is what he tells everyone. Considering he has the same exact name and owns the house, I have no reason to think he is not telling the truth.
Another important note about Richie the boot, David Chase said that he was the mobster that he modeled Tony Soprano after.
This is not true. I work with Dr. Richard Boiardo from time to time. First of all, he is an orthopedic surgeon, but I would hardly call him "famous". But I guess that is arguable. Secondly, he is the grandson of Richie the boot. Or at least that is what he tells everyone. Considering he has the same exact name and owns the house, I have no reason to think he is not telling the truth.
OK. I apologize. I say "famous" because of what I read here:
"...performed the state’s first robotic-arm assisted orthopedic surgery..."
Also, when I said that he had nothing to do with the original crime family, I didn't mean that he wasn't an authentic Boiardo...I meant that despite the fact of being a Boiardo, he has no dealings with any organized crime. I wanted to emphasize that point because I think a lot of people will like to assume different because of the name and the history of the estate.
"...performed the state’s first robotic-arm assisted orthopedic surgery..."
Also, when I said that he had nothing to do with the original crime family, I didn't mean that he wasn't an authentic Boiardo...I meant that despite the fact of being a Boiardo, he has no dealings with any organized crime. I wanted to emphasize that point because I think a lot of people will like to assume different because of the name and the history of the estate.
Ahh. That makes sense.
BTW, those hospital press releases are just a bunch of PR. Every hospital tries to make it seem like THEIR doctors are the world's greatest and most innovative.
There is another well known estate in Livingston. It is the Kean estate. It is where Tom Kean grew up. He sold the land to the developer who built the Belair section but his house is still there. If you drive around Belair, you can't miss it. It is the 100 year old giant stone mansion smack dab in the middle of all the modern homes built in the 1990s. That was all woods around his house before that.
Also Chris Christie grew up in a small house on Northfield Ave.
BTW, those hospital press releases are just a bunch of PR. Every hospital tries to make it seem like THEIR doctors are the world's greatest and most innovative.
There is another well known estate in Livingston. It is the Kean estate. It is where Tom Kean grew up. He sold the land to the developer who built the Belair section but his house is still there. If you drive around Belair, you can't miss it. It is the 100 year old giant stone mansion smack dab in the middle of all the modern homes built in the 1990s. That was all woods around his house before that.
Also Chris Christie grew up in a small house on Northfield Ave.
he had to move out as he grew up...cause it was a small house. BOOM!
hehehe - had to insert obligitory fat-joke before he loses all that weight!
What is the point of this thread? To blog about life in Livingston? I lived there for 5 years and couldn't wait to leave...Snob central! Didn't want my kids growing up in such a materialistic town.
What is the point of this thread? To blog about life in Livingston? I lived there for 5 years and couldn't wait to leave...Snob central! Didn't want my kids growing up in such a materialistic town.
I think it's a great idea for a thread. Many posters come here and are very active as they search for their new home, but a lot then drop off which is fine. Getting the perspective of a new resident in a town, with some preiodic updates, could be a very nice resource for future potential residents (including posts like yours that give another perspective).
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