We Back Dundee as a City of Culture

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Love the abundance of independent shops and businesses…true entrepreneurial spirit in our city

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has its very own Neollithic stone circle - in Charleston.

I hope that the focus on the City of Culture can bring more of Dundee's history that is one the ground (and under it!) to the fore.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Wonderful memories of student life in Dundee in the early 1980s - the intimacy of a small city, the wry humour and endearing local dialect, the rich history (jam, jute and journalism), the creativity and individuality.... Small city with BIG personality!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Everytime I look for help for a project within the creative community, be it volunteers or advice/expertise, I always receive support.
The people's justified optimism and community spirit make me super proud to have made Dundee my home.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is an amazing and vibrant city with so much going on - we love Exchange Street with all its independent shops and cafes.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> People's pride in the history of the City
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The cultural quarter.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The quality of science research and output from dundee
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Templeton Woods, one of many public outdoor spaces in and near Dundee, is a wonderful place with fun artwork
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee City Centre doesn't cover a very wide area but it has everything you'd ever need. Lovely and compact but with all the big shops as well as the lovely independent cafes for some variation.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It is a fantastic city with fantastic fowk living in it.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> How it changes so much but never really changes at all. I was born in Dundee but now live in Essex. The city changes with various buildings being demolished and new ventures being completed every time I visit. But as you walk through the crowds, you notice that the people don't change and there is a tremendous amount of loyalty that stretches back through generations. Dundonians are proud to be just that and that is something that will never change!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Its marvelous setting
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Is a nice and quite place. It has good universities and everything (shops etc) are all nearby.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It's not just about the Ferry or the west end : even smaller local areas have marvels like Fortes cafe, the Balmore Bar, Jessies kitchen and so many others. Dundee has wonderful architecture all over, not just in the currently affluent areas, and around every corner there are wonderful parks and green spaces. Dundee is beautiful if you look past the billboards and industrial sites....
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> As an annual visitor to this great city I can only say what a wonderful warm welcome we always receive both from staff at Caird Hall,an amazing venue, and from local people in eating places and in the street when seeking directions. A great place to be a City of Culture.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee's music scene is different! I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's a lot of diverse musical activity in Dundee relative to its population size. For anyone interested in music and people, it elevates Dundee beyond its fabulous natural location. Maybe it's the geographical setting that inspires people so much. The air here is also good!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The sunshine, and endless summer days of digging our allotment up on the Law, enjoying a BBQ and the amazing view over to Fife...
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The strength of Dundee women, passed down through generations. Can do attitude.
<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> Dundee has a fantastic cultural depth which has integrated itself into the fabric of the city - the people who work full time in offices and building sites but make music with their friends in studios and pubs and halls at night; those who discover a love and ability for writing and poetry through attending writer's workshops and gaining support from others at literary evenings; and the artists who encourage each other to expose their work to strangers. In Dundee, this is all multigenerational and not bound by class.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> For me, Dundee has presented the best music scene that Scotland has seen in recent years and hosted the best in art, computer art, animation and computer gaming.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> McManus Museum... Beautiful and mystery... A taxi driver told me, that below the McManus museum is a water... he is one of the city council worker before he retired. I like Dundee very much... a nice place to study.. to live.. a good environment.. nice people..
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I just love that it's cooler than everyone thinks when you dig a little deeper.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> There are two paintings in The Pillars Bar depicting the sacking of Dundee during the17th century by General Monk's troops. Seeing these as a young man gave me a lifelong love of the history of the area and that is why I became a fine-art curator.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The many great things this small city has produced that have changed life for the btter not only in scotland but the world over
<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> Its gorgeous friendly people who are so welcoming. I love the places to visit, so many hidden treasures.
The scenery around the city is so beautiful to visit.
Dining out is an amazing experience, so many culinary delights.
Its simple a great place
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> A very strong artist-led community, with events at Tin Roof, Generator and WASPS studios.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I lived in Dundee for years - in good times and in bad times. I have seen people struggle through periods of immense poverty and deprivation and yet been amazed at the way they have helped to change and rejuvenate the city - through their belief in the place and their determination . I remember the singer/songwriter Michael Marra as an inspirational voice of the people and "Witch's Blood" as an incredible example of a life changing community arts project that is still remember 26 years after it was produced'
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is an amazing city, over 800 years old it has a rich historic past and plenty of hidden 'secrets'. We have historic streets and buildings, beautiful parks, the Law, the Tay... the list goes on. There is something for everyone , fantastic restaurants and bars, the McManus,a brilliant arts and music scene. The most important thing about Dundee though, is the people, they are friendly, funny and welcoming, so people new to the city quickly begin to feel at home!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The old higgledy piggledy buildings against a backdrop of the swathe of the River Tay, and the unexpected gastronomic delights in a hidden restaurant here and a quirky bistro there.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has developed a wow factor!
<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> The energy and buzz in the city as the waterfront development progresses as well as the vibrant culture in the city with some great venues - The DCA, The Rep and the McManus all spring to mind. The addition of the V&amp;A is going to be fabulous.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> What surprises me about Dundee is how much there is going on beyond the city centre - art exhibitions at Generator Projects and Tin Roof, gigs at Beat Generator and the Art Bar amongst other places and many other things. Dundee has a really vibrant up-and-coming art scene beyond the DCA. There is always something going on, and then you can walk to somewhere like Magdalen Green or the Law for some calm and to relaz with your friends. Dundee is just a special city of its own.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> A friendly place with great theatre, art and architecture with the Tay.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Two of the less known gems I know of are Preston Watson from Dundee who pre-dated the Wright brothers with the first motorised flight.

The other story I have heard and cannot confirm is that the sand within the Tay is a perfect consistency for Baseball mounds and running areas, so close to perfection in fact that it is dredged and shipped out to the USA and is exclusively used for MLB matches by it's official teams. Would love this to be true!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> With Bonnie Dundee you get Scotland in a nutshell.
Red squirrels in the city parks; beautiful Angus hills and wilderness and dolphins on your doorstep and waterfront: Your universities, art college, film school, theatres; the V&amp;A coming and yet a Sunday morning so quiet you can imagine you are in a village long ago where people still walk to, and dress to, go to church.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The shining river Tay in all its moods and the 2 bridges that span it. We also enjoyed the dolphins swimming round the children in Broughty Ferry.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee's people are it's greatest asset. The vast majority are helpful and honest. It's been said that if you're lost in Edinburgh and ask for help, you'll be giving directions, in Glasgow they'll draw you a map, in Dundee they'll get in the car and take you there!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The forward thinking art and technology community.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love the way the sun sets over the bridges, particularly during winter evenings - makes me feel like I am home every time.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Tea ann cake
Jessie's Kitchen
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love all the talks and events that go on around the city, some supplied by the University and others just from people wanting to inform and educate about Science, the Arts, or just about anything you can think of.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Having lived here for 4 years, I went out for a walk today and discovered a lot of lanes and back streets that I had never seen before. So many locals with great accents packed into little cafes. The city offers much more than this, one only has to look around to see that it a place rapidly changing for the better.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is the largest small village in the world. It really is a friendly city and it's that atmosphere that strikes people when they first visit. Dundonian's themselves might not realise it but they really are warm and friendly. There's a feeling like everyone knows one another. The locals are relaxed and unpretentious and that's refreshing in this day and age. So it's the social fabric, the affable, approachable nature of the people that needs to be put forward as one of the Dundee's main assets.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> That it continues to keep discovering good (and great) things about itself - it continues to grow.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Rusty Hip is a Dundonian music collective that organizes gigs, writes zines and keep people informed about upcoming music and art events in the city. Rusty Hip had their first event last month and over 250 people turned up in the freezing cold to have a good time. The event was held in Tin Roof, an arts collective and studio space also based in Dundee. The existence of these two organisations has added to the growing number of organisations that make Dundee a city full of culture.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has always been a fantastic location. Within no time you are either at the sea or in the hills. The law, parks and museums are great places to visit and with the waterfront development well under way Dundee will be a great city of culture.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Friends and relatives who have visited us and who have never seen Dundee before have been quite surprised at what Dundee has to offer when we have taken them around the City.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> No Body's Fool..... Dundee is the peoples city. Bordering now on all sides by Dundee relocaters Inclduing heading up the coast to Monifieth and beyond....invergowrie and Inchture and beyond including Newport, Tayport and St Andrews. Dundee has a great surrounding of People offering artisan, cultural and musical ideas and delivering something special for and too our City.
To me Dundee has it all .....too small to be a big shot and so different that you canna forget her!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is beautiful and glamorous. The city is small but sentimental, with old and new. There is no place like it.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Love that Dundee is a huge village pretending to be a city. Forget about 6 degrees of separation, in Dundee its always 2 degrees. People are friendly, and make everyone welcome due to its matriarchal society, forget about women's movement, Dundee women have always been the centre of the workforce.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The music. There's a surprising variety. Open mic nights with some talented acoustic musicians, jazz and swing on the HMS unicorn, well known names playing gigs at the dog house or fat sam's and everything in-between. Whether you want a chilled out night, fancy some dancing or want to see your favourite band Dundee has it all.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The high level of cultural events, and places to visit
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The friendly people and all the talks at the science museum there seems to something going on every day!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The ancient history, never realised it has been a settlement for thousands of years! The Jacobite rising started on the Law, how amazing! love the city events for Christmas etc.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee always surprises me. Each time I visit I seem to discover something new that makes me want to return.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Having recently started living here (moved from London) I have been struck by the warmth and very welcoming attitude from all those I have met - at work, the bus drivers, shop assistants, various tradesmen to name a few. The compact city has a great history with hidden gems around many corners. The old city walls to the west, a medieval house in the city centre now the Backpackers hostel, the incomparable moodiness of the Tay, RSS Discovery and of course the Unicorn. So understated, so much to shout about.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Outsiders may be surprised to know that William Wallace was educated at the Grammar School of Dundee, and was outlawed for killing the son of the English Governor of Dundee, setting him on the path that would see him become the central figure in the Wars of Independence.
KT Tunstall and Andrew Marr attended the same school, now known as the High School of Dundee, more recently. There is no suggestion either committed any heinous crimes that brought the wrath of the English authorities upon them.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The view from the top of The Law - beautiful, inspiring and one of the best things about Dundee!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The friendliness of the people. The Blues Bonanza
Gardyne's Land
Chalmers' adhesive stamp
P53 - identifying what cancer is about
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Watching the wonderfully wild sea life from the waterfront area, birds, seals and even dolphins. Breathing the fresh sea air and observing the weather rolling in.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The friendliness and warmth of Dundonians; the huge number of independent shops, bars and cafes; and of course the sunshine!!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Its huge creativity
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love how Dundee has a strong social history and culture - from the women in the mill to the "hecklers" and the beginnings of the unions.
I feel this strong cultural identity is preserved and carried forward today and built upon by the people of the city nowadays... maybe not in an "In your face way" but in a quiet and assured way that directly affects real peoples lives.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I have worked in Dundee for the last 17 years and in that time it never ceases to amaze me how much it has really flourished creatively to being the innovative and forward thinking city that it is today.

A great deal of commitment, effort and time has been given by the people and employers within the city to create this vibrancy and it certainly deserves to be credited as a City of Culture.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> having lived in the city off and on for sixty years, the Dundee of today is evolving into a modern 21st century city. Twenty years ago, that seemed unbelievable....
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Even after 10 years of living in the city I seem to stumble onto new things in and around the area of Dundee. :)
<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> A treasure trove of culture and history - Verdant Works, Discovery Point, McManus Galleries, DCA, Mills Observatory etc. Then there is Boughty Ferry with it's castle, sea front, fauna, interesting shops, restaurants and character. Journey on the train across the rail bridge on a visit to Dundee and be amazed at the beautiful view of river and shore.
<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> It always amazing how diverse Dundonians are, in their language, there fashion, their backgrounds, their views and there lifestyles. The rich tapestry of people in Dundee means there is a place for everyone to feel at home and that is something that always surprises me about the place.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love Dundee's gritty determination. It's a city that just won't back down, always looking forward and has a belief in itself.
And the best fish suppers can be had at The Silvery Tay in Menzieshill!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The vast cosmopolitanism for one. The combination of Vibrant university atmosphere and a sprawling city combine to make Dundee a pretty special place. Everything from looking at the Tay whilst on Magdalen Green or the sight of The Discovery ship as you get of the train. Awesome
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Local bands make the city what it is. Energy, Excitement and Dedication. What more can you give?
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The view from the law hill is one of Dundee's hidden gems and allows you to see the evolving story of the changes occurring in Dundee, and still view it's past, it's present and its future.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Me sorprende su hermosa Arquitectura, organización, cultura, costumbres y todo su avance
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> There is always a buzz about Dundee, even when the university students are not in town. There's always something different to do, from the University saturday eveing lecture series, to local events and bands, sports events. We are fortunate to have Dundee Contemporary Arts with a rich variety on offer and our Repertory theatre. A few minutes in any direction you are in countryside and there is a great cycle path around the city and great cycling and walking to be had nearby too. We have great bars and restuarants too. It's a great place to live and socialise.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has a wonderful sense of community , people are proud of their city and show this by pulling together to influence change and improvements in their local areas.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Although it is smaller than Glasgow or Manchester, Dundee's thriving musical community is one of the best in the UK. The sheer quality of music that is being churned out and played in many of the live music venues is often under appreciated. It should be recognised and celebrated throughout the world!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The observatory on Balgay Hill- its a gem and free to visit!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The talent and prowess the city has in the technology and digital media sectors never fails to blow me away.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The fantastic gaming community. Digital, table top, cards and board. From game shops to pubs you'll find gamers everywhere
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee's fascinating history of whaling is still largely untapped. It inspired Mary Shelley when she wrote Frankenstein and led directly to the amazing exploits of Scott, Shackleton etc. Shackleton even once tried to become MP for Dundee! The Tay Whale in the McManus is awesome and there's loads of animals brought back from the Arctic by the whalers in the university's zoology museum.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The depth of creative talent in Dundee is something we should be immensely proud of, and we should be making more of a big deal about it. There are tiny gigs and exhibitions going on all the time in the city, and you never have to look far for one. We have so many talented people and they are so often overlooked.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> One Cultural event that I really enjoyed taking part in was the city wide production of "Witches Blood 2". ( This was community theatre at it's best! ).

There is many more current examples of community theatre in Dundee, the production of "This Town" at the Verdant works being a another good example.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Beautiful river views from the top of the Law, dolphin spotting down the Ferry and long woodland walks through Camperdown Park. Amazing place to bring up children!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> How friendly the people are!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The fact that Dundee plays a significant role in the International Space industry. The University of Dundee employs one of the lead authors of the International SpaceWire standard which is used by many of the world's leading space agencies, e.g. NASA, ESA, JAXA; and local companies such as STAR-Dundee Ltd specialise in developing test equipment for SpaceWire networks.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The remnant stubs of the original Tay road bridge, a reminder of the disaster of 1879; a street named 'Peek-o-day Lane' because of all the smoke from the mills &amp; factories, a nod to the industries of the day; a statue dedicated to William Wallace where he first killed another man as a young boy; and the High School of Dundee, which educated Wallace as a sect of travelling monks (the Monks of Lindores) before it was built here in 1239; all glimmers of Dundee's rich history &amp; colourful past.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The attitude of the people in Dundee is first class, 99per cent are behind the proposed waterfront project, When this project is finished, the Va Museum, new Railway Station and the New 5 star hotels opened Dundee will be a place to be reckoned with.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The richness and diversity of the arts and culture; the burgeoning technology industry and the determined spirit of the locals.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Moving from Edinburgh to Dundee 3 years ago I didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised by all the wonderful things on offer, I am now proud to call it my home.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> That after completing my dance degree in Dundee I have managed to get a full time job with Smallpetitklein Dance Company which is an exciting and dynamic company based in Dundee. Under the artistic direction of Thomas Small the company has a successful international performance company as well as a diverse community strand. Everyday is new and exciting!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> My musical home. I was 15 when I played my first ever gig at The Shore in Dundee. A city with a thriving and diverse music scene like no other.
Su, Panda Su
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Love the DCA
<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> Dundee is home to one of the hottest new Scottish bands; Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward and Fisher and they recently recorded a new version of Dougie MacLean's 'Caledonia' after their 'take' on the much loved song was featured on the TV advert for Caledonia Best ale. The band have sold out the Gardyne theatre in Dundee on the three occasions they played there in the past year or so and were recently awarded the Scottish Variety Award in Glasgow for the best new scottish band.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Multicultural people, from many countries and backgrounds, all live happily together without segregation or differentiation. Dundee is a friendly, happy city!
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The riverside is one of my most iconic places in Dundee. I jog the side anytime of the day as I experience a chilling and breezy experience from the Tay water. I know this is an obvious asset but it's not what you get everywhere.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> How much there is to see and do in Dundee. Many people including it's own citizens have a bad habit of talking Dundee down but it has superb visitor attractions eg the McManus Galleries, Discovery, Verdant works etc. Some of the architecture both old and modern is very atrractive. There is a great beach at Broughty Ferry, a cycle route round the city and many parks, golf courses etc within easy reach of the city centre. The counrtyside around Dundee provides plenty of walks for the able and less able. All in all it is a great place to live.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> As a foreigner working in Dundee I am most touched by Dundonians' intrinsic desire to improve their communities by working together.
The Dundee Dance Partnership is an example of this and a model to follow in other areas.
Dundee promotes social and cultural exchanges in every corner of the city, all in a humorous and light-hearted way but without trivialising the impact of such a conversation.
Dundee symbolises the slogan "working together for an equal and better future", embracing the challenges that such a lofty cause might entail.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> it is the best city in the world and where I was born and most of my family live. Best schools and football team in DUFC.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I don't think people understand the sheer level of creative ability that derives from DJCAD each year. Making the move to Dundee from Northern Ireland 4 years ago has been the best thing for me as a creative individual. The people make the city. They are the culture and they are the future. I feel privileged to have been part of a thriving art school, so much so that I'm basing my final year 'Interior + Environmental Design' Degree Show project on the prospect of a design graduate event space on Dundee's very own Tay Road Bridge, that would exist not only as an cultural and creative interface for DJCAD, but to commemorate the desired '2017 City of Culture' status.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Scotland's only Frank Gehry building is in Dundee (Maggie's Centre at Ninewells). Dundee should be looking to commission more as they are attractions in themselves !
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It has everything we need in terms of culture: we have the DCA with it's exhibitions and workshops and the cinema which brings films not always shown at Cineworld. Both cinema's have regular showings of live opera from the Met, and cineworld had regular showings of big rock bands. Soon we will have the V&amp;A which I'm so looking forward to.

In terms of leisure we have a brand new swimming pool opening soon, and Dundee has two major league football clubs and several amatuer clubs. There are many great places to eat like Marco Polo in the centre of town and several Indian and Turkish restaraunt up the Perth Road. There are many places to drop in for coffee and home made food like the wonderful T An Cake (not sure I've spelled that right) There is also a wide variety of shops including tradtional shops like Braithwaites who are sellers of teas and coffees from around the world.

Last, but not least, is the setting of the city itself: there are many green spaces with Camperdown Park as the main place to go for a picnic and a stroll, there are the walks along the Riverside, and there are the beautiful beaches at Broughty Ferry....and beyond, the coastal scenery going toward Monifeith and Carnoustie.

I came to Dundee 25 years ago to College and much has changed in the city since, except it's friendliness and welcome of the outsider. With the two universities and colleges and the Duncan of Jordanston School of Art, Dundee is a cosmapolitan city, with students from around the world and Indian, Pakistani, Polish and Romanian folk settling in the city and rubbing along together very well. Dundee has many churches; a beautiful mosque and a Sihk Gudwarra. This melting pot gives the city it's richness and expansiveness.

I now live across the water in Fife but feel Dundee is my city.
<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The Howff offers a sanctuary in the middle of the city for a quiet conversation, a relaxed sandwich or just a moment of contemplation. Centuries of history offer snapshots of lives and a reminder that what's most important is what you leave behind for others.

:)

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