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 plump in the air.
But when Rick takes a picture of what may be a murder, he is haunted by Adam (Justin Ivan Brown), the male 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 open to interpretation.
In a recent interview, Verow and Díaz spoke with Queer City News about cruising and their stylish new production, “You Can’t Continue Here.”
Todd, the film contains a credit, “Inspired by actual events.” What inspired this film?
Todd Verow: It is loosely based on a authentic serial killer who existed in the early s Brand-new York. I
Central Park
History
Central Park has had numerous associations with the LGBT community since its creation. The Angel of the Waters sculpture on the Bethesda Fountain was planned by sculptor Emma Stebbins.
George Chauncey, identifying the park as a major LGBT social center and cruising earth in his book Gay Recent York, found that at the turn of the 20th century men met next to Belvedere Castle, by the s benches near Columbus Circle had become a prominent pickup site, and in the s the lawn at the north end of the Ramble was so popular that it was nicknamed “the Fruited Plain.” In the s 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, established as “Vaseline Alley” or “Bitches’ Walk.” Chauncey also noted that, as preliminary as , 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 and future gay rights leader Harvey Milk Rendezvous in the Ramble 4 Comments Add Yours By Doug Ireland From the July 24, issue of New York Magazine. Picture Central Park—without a sailor, Picture Mister Lord, minus Mister Taylor. —Cole Porter's "A Picture of Me Without You," The west side of that acre section of Central Park known as the Ramble had a reputation as a homosexual meeting basis long before Cole teased his friends at private parties with this suggestive lyric. But though Central Park at night—any part of the park—is dangerous, the gay ghetto that is the Ramble is perhaps the section most fear-ridden. Gangs of toughs—teenagers and the macho middle-aged, usually drunk, occasionally including a couple of off-duty cops—roam the Ramble at night, engaging in an old American pastime: fag bashing. You don't have to be lgbtq+. You don't have to be exposing yourself. You don't hold to be doing anything except walking through the tangled darkness to be abused, shoved, threatened at knifepoint, kicked, and beaten. enter from the East side at Walk westward into the park and follow the paved paths in a North West direction almost a 45 degree angle from 72 until you find the Boathouse. The action starts just behind the Boathouse and spreads north and west from there. Travel in the daylight to get use to the area.
Is the Ramble in Central Park still active?
by Anonymous reply 28 March 12, AM Central Park Rambles
Cross street: Between 72nd and 77th street
Cross street: Between 72nd and 77th street
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.