:: We Dundee

We Back Dundee as a City of Culture

2791

PEOPLE AND GROWING

Dundee is the backdrop to my childhood and holds so many indelible and personal moments in time. But beyond my personal experience, this little city on the river has a richness of history, a truly international legacy and some of the best takeaways in Scotland. From Scott, through Victoria to Dennis the Menace, Dundee consistently punches above it weight and although I now live far away, a part of my heart will always be looking out at those two bridges spanning the Tay.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love the warmth and welcoming people who made me feel at home when I came 28 years ago and now would never leave.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Friendly People
new independant shops opening

Events - Free Dundee Uni lectures on a Saturday

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee's got a great location, lots of history, culture and vibrancy and is a great place to visit.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Unless you are from Dundee you might not always see it's name as being synonymous with music. You might struggle to hear the music in our accents and language. But when I think of home, I think of music. I grew up with a litany of bands past and present. I spent my weekends in bars and clubs seeing live bands. Dundee reeks of music, it's in the very stones. Songs have got us through hard times and good times. From a pakced out gig Blues Bonanza to a house party with a guitar it's who we are.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The University Gardens

<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.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Just love my home town. No matter where I go, it doesn't live up to Dundee!!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Not a 'hidden secret' but Dundee is the sunniest city in Scotland and with the Law and a walk along the riverside on a nice day it is beautiful!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I think Dundee is much more beautiful than a lot of people realise. There are some stunning buildings and because so much of it is on a hill there are some beautiful views of the river. I like going to the graveyard next to the Westpark Conference Centre and looking across the river.

Other things I like about Dundee - the DCA, the amazing Dundee Roller Girls roller derby team, the Creative Dundee movement that seems to be developing, the little independent shops and cafes that are hidden away and some of the lovely green spaces we have.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> My Dad's city. I have visited regularly over the years and am delighted at the wonderful changes taking place. I am a keen supporter of the arts and see Dundee's rebirth as a centre for the arts very exciting. Once the waterfront developments are complete Dundee will add another dimension to it's colourful history. I love to visit Dundee. I love to walk its streets and meet with its people. I fully support Dundee's bid to be Culture Capital 2017.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The music scene is great!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee Voluntary Sector - caring, accessable and the life and soul of the city

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> No matter where one lives in Dundee, a view of the silvery Tay is very close. The river Tay is like a woman - ever interesting, ever questioning, ever fascinating. To see the seals on the sandbanks, when the tide is low, and to watch the bottle-nose dolphins leap and play, early on a summer's evening is an unforgettable joy.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> dundee has an amazing sense of unity regardless of its many diverse cultures.

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

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The history behind Dundee is what surprised me most for example during the industrial revolution, the jute, the jam, and the printing industries. It has surprised me as to how much it has shaped the city to this day.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It's a city with a community, heart and soul. It is unique

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is a vibrant modern city with a wonderful history

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The amazing warm feeling I get when I see the Tay road bridge as I approach my hometown on the train.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> My grandfather was walking home from the Kirk holding his father's hand on the night the Tay Bridge came down celebrated by the most awful doggerel ever penned by the 'poet' McGonigall. I went to Queens College in 1959 and took a degree in Chemistry and Physics and returned two years ago for a reunion and was amazed at the transformation of the city from the rundown images I remember in the sixties to the lively and fascinating modern Dundee with Scott's ship and so many other attractions artistic, cultural and physical.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The view from the top of Glamis Road where it meets Dixon Avenue. This view of the Tay Estuary lookind towards Perth is picturesque like a scene from a Scottish Fairy tail. The Buzz of activity on the Perth Road on the evenings of the weekend is always welcoming. The Regeneration of the waterfront is truly amazing and looks to be progressing further for the future.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I recently moved here as an intern in the University of Dundee Museum Services. I am delighted to be part of a city with so much culture, and I was surprised at the amount of history and culture Dundee has. Knowing hardly anything about the city, I look forward to learning all there is to know (if that's even possible!)

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> If you live in Dundee you are within a 10 minute drive to the beach, beautiful parks and the countryside as well as a cultural quarter in the west end. Our community centres also provide a wide variety of learning opportunities with something to suit all tastes

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> A stunning location and a city with a wonderful heart. It could be one of the greats.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The multitude of events hosted throughout the year - jazz; dance; classical music; talks; comedy; recent major art exhibitions at the McManus; and more. Just wish I had more time to go to them all!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The welcome, the activity, the music, the drama, the films, the plays, the art - within Dundee and within reach of Dundee.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It's Scotland's fastest growing city

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> This is an exciting time for Dundee and I look forward to the completion of the waterfront development and of course the V&A. I actually live across in Fife but look upon Dundee every morning as I come over the bridge and have always said 'Dundee looks beautiful from across the water'

$Q) What surprises you about the city? <hr>A) Word on the Pavey - surrealist self deprecating Dundonian humour sung by a big chap called St Andrews produced by the late great Michael Marra - Dundonians internationally now share snippets like a secret handshake - a rendition of an \"inganingana\" checks you really are the genuine Dundee article !$

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has gone through an incredible creative regeneration. With the imminent arrival of V&A, the refurbishment of McManus and a flourishing dance community, the city has an abundance of creativity. It's already a City of Discovery. A city ready and well poised to further discover it's creative future. Bring on the City of Culture!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Amazing 'hidden' architectural gems, heritage of the 'Jute Barons', many now used as offices, sensitive conversions, etc.
The energy and innovation that underpins the DCA, Sensations, the Rep, and so much more - the city vibrates with art and cultural excitement.
The musical tradition, made manifest in the excellent programme of classes for Dundee's schoolchildren.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> All the cheeky birds.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The variety of culture to be found in such a small geographic area.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I'm from continental Europe and moved to Dundee for its world class life sciences sector (and the nearby Highlands!), however I now find that Dundee has so many things going for it. One favourite is lunch at the wornderfully eclectic Tea an Cake in the city centre - original, fun and friendly!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is a city that is green, warm in the summer and has a good community spirited people. Having moved up from Plymouth 6 years ago and lived here with my wife in Tayside in a multicultural relationship I have been accepted as part of the community and has had few problems.

Dundee is a family orientated city with lots of family activities that are cost effective.
After returning from Plymouth when I see the sign welcome to Dundee, I get that feeling of being at home.

<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> Voices in Harmony is a choir operating out of Whitfield Community Centre. Membership is around thirty plus and growing. The choir sings acappella and is led by Sarah Harrop who is very enthusiastic and inspirational.
Gigs are performed across the city including Marryatt Hall. Recently the choir worked in collaboration with Dundee Rep to perform "This Town" in Verdant Works.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee rep have been at the leading edge of regional theatre for as long as I can remember. I grew up with so many great productions that I didn't realise how special they were and how lucky I was until I moved away from the city. It's not so much a hidden secret as a treasure hidden in plain sight, so much a part if the Dundee landscape that its easy to forget what a truly amazing resource it is.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee had a reputation as being hard and unfriendly when i first came to the city in 1984 to study. I soon discovered that the City of Discovery is a safe and pleasant place to come. It has all the facilities of a big city but you don't have to travel too far to get to things. Not too big, not too small, just about right.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> We have rich history which many people outside of Dundee would not be aware of.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love the vibrancy of the city and know that good things are coming for Dundee. It has a great nightlife and is ideally situated for exploring the rest of the country! I love the city square as a great place to watch the world go by!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The museums and galleries, the cafés and bars as well as the talented artists, musicians and wonderful community spirit. When the sun shines the buzz in the air is fantastic.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The amazing work our volunteer organisations do with the youth of today – be it Girls Brigade, Boys Brigade, Brownies, Guides or Scouts and not forgetting the many sports teams, community centres, dance or music classes that Dundee volunteers support. The many volunteers who help the sick, elderly, vulnerable, meals on wheels, support charity shops, fundraising events, support at courts and hospitals and many other tasks not listed.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> For such a small city, Dundee has so much going for it- one of the top art colleges in the UK producing graduates who go on to be Turner prizewinners and scooping most of the awards at the London graduate exhibitions; a multi-cultural society that mixes well; taxi drivers who are full of amazing stories and knowledge; one of the driest, sunniest climates in the UK; gorgeous sunsets!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Great place to live, work and enjoy.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It's forty years since I left Dundee after graduating. I still hold very dear memories of the Deep Sea fish restaurant on the Perth Road. Fifteen years after leaving, on a visit to relatives, my wife and I went to the Deep Sea. It wasn't open so we joined the queue - and got chattinng to the folks in the queue, several of whom knew relatives of mine. And the, the staff remembered us in the restaurant. My wife, who hails from Surrey, still thinks Dundee is the friendliest palce we're been to.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee doesn't deny its flaws, instead uses the wide range of skills that its diverse population has to offer to tackle problems. The range of voluntary and statuary services in Dundee amazed me when I started working in the voluntary sector, and I'm proud to say I've been part of it. The city has a bad reputation that it doesn't deserve, I've lived here for 4 years since coming for university and I'm reminded on a daily basis why I decided to stay!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The river Tay and all that's built along it! And a wonderful people.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Sitting in Mennies bar and looking down on the beautiful curves of the Tay Bridge, nice.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Our ability to continually innovate, inspire and engage is difficult to beat. From Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, The Rep Theatre and DCA, to computer games, technology and design the City, in its own quiet way, makes a big impact across the world.
The UK should be proud to have Dundee as City of Culture.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The Old Mill Snooker club in the city is a hidden gem where the full spectrum of Dundee citizens can be found in a friendly environment.

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