:: We Dundee

We Back Dundee as a City of Culture

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PEOPLE AND GROWING

There is an early 16 century brass astrolabe in the McManus galleries. As an object it represents remarkable craftsmanship, it has a story to tell about seamanship, discovery, imagination, and those whose hands it passed through – it is one unique part of the story of this fascinating city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Love the hustle and bustle of Saturday afternoon. Always changing!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The team and young people at Hot Chocolate Trust in Dundee city centre - amazing, top quality youthwork going on. It's like a family. Also the wee garden in the middle of Perth Road, opposite the university, with the miniature bandstand. The flowers are always lovely and the view is brilliant.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The whole city has a sense of friendliness about it with the residents taking a pride and an interest in their City. Their attitude encourages visitors to come back again and again as well as holding onto those who enjoy the City on a regular basis

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The real surprise is why Dundonians don't shout about the place more loudly. For it's size Dundee punches well above it's weight and the people are disarmingly modest about it. .

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> what I love are the hidden and timeless little places such as Strawberry Bank. A steep little road with all its fruit, plums, apples, pears waving at you from over their high walls. I also love the feeling of getting to the tap o' the hill with your leg muscles trembling with relief at getting to the top. and finally the last step up the Law and looking back over the fine city of Dundee and beyond.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> How since going to university, every time I come home something new has changed; in the last few years Dundee has become confident, and proud of itself! And obviously the all-night bakery is Dundee's biggest hidden secret...

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> How many interesting and creative people come from Dundee... Not least of all my husband and actor Forbes KB !

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is an ever-changing city - re-inventing herself and surprising visitors from both home and abroad.

A totally hidden secret is part of the Castle Walls in the basement of an office in Castle Street, Dundee where I used to work.

McManus Art Gallery and Museum is not only an amazing building but filled with History, Art and Artefacts - a total treasure in the middle of the city centre.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> All dundee's public artwork. My favourites are desperate dan and the dragon. Also some of the buildings in dundee are beautiful like the McManus, the maggies centre and St. Paul's cathedral

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The excitement and anticipation I feel when I pass through what will be the new waterfront. It is like a flower waiting to burst into full bloom. I can't wait!!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> So many wonderful Victorian buildings and 9 times out of 10 the sun is shining

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Music, vibrant arts and culture, grassroots self organised cultural activities going on as well as via more established organisations like DCA and other venues

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is the perfect city size - big enough to have great shops, restaurants, theatres and other amenities, but small enough to have a cosy, community feel. I love this city!!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> McManus galleries offer a wonderful insight into the rich history of the city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love the art that is around the city. There are the penguin statues outside the overgate (which have santa hats put on them for Christmas); a scary looking dragon on the high street and of course desperate dan standing in the city center. My favourites are the more modern looking metal sculptures like the paper planes which are found across from the airport.
As for a hidden secret I really like the planet trail at the Mills observatory where you can walk across the beautiful park and walk from the sun to pluto. Each planet is represented by a rock with a plaque giving information about the planet. The distances between each planet is a scaled down model of reality so it can be hard to find Neptune!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> How much I miss it - I never expected to feel that when I moved away, but there's a unique sense of warmth and welcoming about the Dundee

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> My daughter was born in Dundee. She was taught sign language at Oranges & Lemons nursery when she was aged 3-4. She and her class mates performed 2 songs with signing when she moved on to school. The fact that she learnt sign language at nursery shows a great attitude to learning, and an outward looking but also inclusive culture. We love Dundee!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The creative atmosphere in the city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> We have everything on our multi culture doorstep, from comics, to culture, cutting edge fashion & technology, great pubs and clubs, Reading Rooms, and the obligatory Jam Jute and Journalism :)

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> CULTURE!!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> We are a world centre for life sciences as well as a world centre for the games industry and animation. We have two top class universities, an excellent college and one of the highest students per head of population ratios in the UK. Dundee has been through hard times but the regeneration that's happening in the city has to be seen to be believed.Without entirely losing sight of its past, the city is thrusting its way into the future. It's an exciting time particularly with the waterfront regeneration to include the V&A as well as the city's first 5*Hotel.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Every time I visit I'm amazed at the positive changes taking place - especially along the waterfront.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dolphins in the Tay,which I can see from my bedroom window.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I moved here in the mid 80's to study and didn't leave! Dundee is such a beautiful and vibrant city. I love it's distinctive language, history, architecture, amazing music scene and close proximity to the sea, to name but a few. Most of all though, I love the people. Dundee is full of friendly, creative and very talented people and in my opinion the perfect choice for UK City of Culture 2017.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee Rep and the Law Hill

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> A small city where everything is happening! Dundee got strong roots, but also keep an eye on the future! Friendly people everywhere, nice wee places to eat! (I really love Lily and Stone caffe!) The waterfront is beautiful!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I feel Dundee women have a deserved reputation for being strong independamt women as they have been since the days of the jute mills

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> DCA and culture generally

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Since returning to Dundee after an absence of 30 years I have been truly amazed at the can do attitude of the people here and the extraordinary determination to transform the city, which despite all the challenges, is bearing fruit. What is being achieved by Dundee is an example for all to follow and if awarded UK City of Culture status will fully merit the honour and Dundee will do justice to it benefiting not just Dundee and its surrounds but all of the UK. I've worked in cities round the world but none have the spirit of Dundee.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Echoes of history from the proud jute mills turned homes - colour and style in a modern landscape

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The spectacular view from the top of Ninewells Avenue ... it is never twice the same, beautiful in all its moods, and when the tide is low and the river is full of sandbanks, you feel you could walk your way across to Fife.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The hidden gems of architecture scattered around the city along with the green spaces as your drive into Dundee along the river.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It's amazing how much of a hidden history and the many people who have a connection with the city especially through literature, entertainment, music, sport & media.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Everything is walkable within an hour. Up the law, Balgay park, great views. Serenity of the Houff cemetery city center. Along Perth road to Invergowrie/ Kingoodie for the botanic gardens or carry on to the quarry. From the docks along the waterfront to Broughty Ferry, much more but only 100 words.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Camperdown park is a delightful park which hosts a variety of different community events throughout the year. There is a play area for children, a wildlife centre, duck pond and golf course/tennis courts which provide a fantastic resource for the whole family right in the centre of the city. Great for long walks and BBQ's in the summer time and sledging in the winter.

Empire State coffee house is a fantastic cafe right in the centre of Dundee. Espress-Oh! is another great new place on the Perth road. Lots of great little independent shops and cafes all along the Perth road which is near to the University and popular with students.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> There's so much going on in such a relatively small city. You just have to know where to look. There's always an Art opening or gig to check out.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I'm a Dundonian who has been living away for the past 10 years. Next year I am coming home and I couldn't be more excited! During my recent visits I have seen remarkable improvements in Dundee but know this is only the start! Dundonians are the warmest people I have come across, this together with the impressive developments in the City makes Dundee the place to be!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The view from Dundee Law - opens up to the entirety of Tayside, the North and the Kingdom of Fife

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> My parents were both Dundee doctors. My father was John Langlands who had a practice at Garland Place. He was a very much loved Dundee GP who used to visit his patients nearly every day of the year, even Christmas Day!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> As a student I was struck by the friendliness of the people of Dundee and that while it has had its deprived past, the city is definitely changing for the better and is on its way up

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee, unofficially known as Fundee, due to the happy memories and good times had during my university days. Great people, culture and attitude makes each return visit something to look forward to.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The variety of the city's music scene. From big bands and jazz at the universities to punk rock and indie in small venues, Dundee is again beginning to be recognised as a place well worth visiting - whatever sounds you prefer to have in your ears.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> For a small city Dundee really punches above its weight in terms of its breadth of cultural activity and ambition and enthusiasm of its creative people.

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