Gay cruising central park
Cruising in the Ramble: Q&A with Todd Verow & Guillermo Díaz of ‘You Can’t Stay Here’
Prolific independent queer filmmaker Todd Verow’s latest feature, the intriguing, ambiguous thriller, “You Can’t Stay Here,” unfolds largely in Central Park’s renowned cruising area, the Ramble. It is in this magical hothouse environment where Rick (Guillermo Díaz), a photographer, shoots various people while the promise of sex hangs thick in the air.
But when Rick takes a picture of what may be a murder, he is haunted by Adam (Justin Ivan Brown), the man he thinks is responsible for the crime (and possibly others). Is Rick right, or is it all in his head? “You Can’t Stay Here” teases out the possibilities. It is a canny approach that leaves things unlock to interpretation.
In a recent interview, Verow and Díaz spoke with Gay Metropolis News about cruising and their stylish new clip, “You Can’t Stay Here.”
Todd, the film contains a credit, “Inspired by actual events.” What inspired this film?
Todd Verow: It is loosely based on a real serial killer who existed in the early 1990s Modern York. It is also inspired by New York in the early 1990s.
Can you talk about cre Central Park has had numerous associations with the LGBT community since its creation. The Angel of the Waters sculpture on the Bethesda Fountain was constructed by sculptor Emma Stebbins. George Chauncey, identifying the park as a major LGBT social center and cruising basis in his book Gay Recent York, found that at the turn of the 20th century men met next to Belvedere Castle, by the 1910s benches near Columbus Circle had become a prominent pickup site, and in the 1920s the lawn at the north end of the Ramble was so popular that it was nicknamed “the Fruited Plain.” In the 1920s and ’30s, heavily trafficked by gay men were the areas south of 72nd Street, near Columbus Circle, Bethesda Fountain, and the walkway from the southeastern corner of the park to the Mall, recognizable as “Vaseline Alley” or “Bitches’ Walk.” Chauncey also noted that, as first as 1921, police were sent into the park to entrap and to arrest gay men, including in mass sweeps. Among those arrested in the park were diarist Donald Vining in 1943 and future queer rights leader Harvey Milk, who had just grad enter from the East side at 72. Hike westward into the park and follow the paved paths in a North West direction almost a 45 degree angle from 72 until you discover the Boathouse. The activity starts just behind the Boathouse and spreads north and west from there. Go in the daylight to get use to the area. Crowd: all types. mostly hustlers Neighbourhood: Central Park West all types. mostly hustlers .
Central Park
History
Central Park Rambles
Cross street: Between 72nd and 77th avenue
Cross street: Between 72nd and 77th highway
Best times: Dusk till 1. Many stay way after 1 just gotta watch for the cops.
Dates open: Cops close it at 1 am.
Cruisiest Spots: All throughout the rambles. Central Park at 103rd St
Who's Coming
Cross street: 103
Cross street: 103
Best times: mid night
Dates open: 24/7
Cruisiest Spots: jogging circle
Warnings: driven by park rangers. got away with in the woods but not without being chased out.