Where Art Thou – Jonathan Santlofer Lives, Writes and Paints Inside Flower District Loft
By Micki Siegel When mystery writer and artist Jonathan Santlofer wakes up each morning, he can smell the roses — literally. That’s because Santlofer and his wife, Joy, a food historian, live right in the heart of Chelsea’s flower district. He recalls the day they saw the apartment, back in January 1979: “It was gardenia season,” he says, “and the street was filled with gardenia plants. It just smelled so wonderful. That was one of the reasons why we bought our loft.” In spite of the flowers, the area — industrial by day and deserted by night — left much to be desired. As did the loft itself. “It was horrible,” Santlofer says. “It was in an old furrier’s building. Our apartment had been a deserted fur vault. And it was filthy! There were 4 inches of fur stuck to the walls and the ceilings. There was no heat or hot water. No passenger elevator, … Read more
