:: We Dundee

We Back Dundee as a City of Culture

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PEOPLE AND GROWING

Being among the first to see amazing new children’s films at Discovery Film Festival, eating fudge donuts from Fisher & Donaldson and meeting so many welcoming, funny, inspiring people. Every time I get a funny look from someone outside of the city when I tell them I live in Dundee it makes me proud to say it’s a truly great place to be.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The ancient Howff graveyard given to Dundee by Mary Queen of Scots, is an oasis of calm in the middle of the city, and a place to contemplate mortality.
Beautiful herbaceous borders with rare shrubs like the Yellow Magnolia mingle with crumbly, moss-furred tombs. Bygone names such as Barbary Bathie, German Stewart, and Euphemia Lochmolony really capture the imagination.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> "The Speedwell Bar ( Ma Mennies'), Perth Road, Dundee
is one Edwardian public house that has retained its original shopfront and fittings, due to their exceptional craftsmanship.

One of the very few pubs in Scotland and the only pub in Dundee having been listed for the quality of its interior"
Adam Swan, Chartered Town Planner, Dundee District Council"

Built in 1903 on the site of a well for the Lord Provost James Speed the Speedwell is acclaimed in the Daily Telegraph (3/4/09) asone of the Uk's best 70 pubs.

Home of Dundee's William McGonagall Appreciation Society

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> My mother is a from Dundee, most of mine and my brother's school holidays were spent there as children staying with our much adored Grandpa in the West end of the city. Much time was spent playing on Magdalene Green beside the Railway and the Tay (something we were never allowed to do growing up in London) which gave us a great sense of freedom. A treasured memory is happening to be staying up there when the Discovery was brought back to Dundee and the excitement and pride that people took in that event .It is a wonderful city with a rich and varied past that the city's very friendly and kind people are so much making the best of as regeneration continues very pleasingly to expand throughout it. With so much going on from the Discovery to the fantastic DCA I would recommend it to anyone as somewhere well worth a visit and a stay. I could not be more proud to say this place is where some of my family are from!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> You can live in the city with all its benefits and just a couple of minutes by car you can enjoy a nice round of golf, a day on the beach or just relax in one of the cafés in and around Dundee.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> How we've grown up to be a city once again capable of inspiring, educating and encouraging our own, and those who become our own; proud of our past and confident about our future.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Douglas Sports Centre gives the local community access to excellent facilities on their doorstep providing opportunities to be active in their community.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I was born and bred in Dundee and no matter where I have gone in the world I have always been pulled back. Dundee has a magical quality which my father kept alive for us through tales of glass staircases and worthies! As a nurse in Dundee I have had the privilege to have met and looked after a diverse and colourful cast of characters! I love our city and the people in it!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Every time I come back to Dundee I don't feel at home until I have walked beside the river. It is a simple walk but the view is constantly changing. This magnificent bit of water can comfort, excite and rejuvenate. Whenever I show someone around Dundee I do the same walk down to the river. Time and again visitors comment not only on the view but how surprised they are at how everyone we pass smiles and says hello as we walk along. It is surprising how the common connection with the Tay connects its admirers and how, at other times when there is no one, there can be such quiet open space and wide horizons so close to a busy city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It has an incredible history, has reinvented itself after years of decline and now boasts many intereting things to see....galleries, museums etc. The University is a major driver in this and is one off the best in Scotland. Voted one of the best palces to study in wordldwide recentlty at least in the lifesciences sector. It should be celebrated!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The people more than anything else. It's a thriving cultural place, people all lovely, helpful and so much going on. A small city with a real buzz

<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> Our young people

Diversity in action

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Museums - Discovery, McManus Gallery, and Verdant Works are all fantastic visitor attractions.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> the amount of development and arts..not everyone knows about such great places such as the Mcmanus

<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> Dundee Central Library is quite the best public library I have come across. Wonderful view over the Tay as well.

<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 city feels more vibrant and diverse than ever before. The mind is never bored in a place like Dundee. Hidden secret has to be the various collectives operating in the city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It's sunny disposition is actually reflected by the people. Just look closely.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Despite the temporary chaos, the city is being modernised and regenerated, and will soon be marvellous, centrally situated, excellent infrastructure.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee has been more prominent in the history of Scotland than many people realise.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> A Great Place to live, with stuff always on!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Charles McKean - his lectures about Dundee are always an inspiration.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The incredible generosity of spirit in the people. Unseen at first, but just waiting to be uncovered.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> dundee is real, people from dundee are all real, raw and honest. there is no pretentiousness here. what you see is what you get.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The first thing that surprised and delighted me about Dundee was that it still has many of its old buildings and cobbled streets. It has a strong sense of history, but not in a way that holds it back. The historic city is cherished and involved, without sacrificing the space the new city needs to flourish.
Besides that, the support for the arts is obvious all over. This is most obvious in the city centre, and makes the space one that people care about - it's rare to find bollards, lamp-posts, benches and notice-boards that are all designed to be “nicer than they have to be" (to quote a friend).

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Balgay Park in the sunshine. Best place for a picnic and a kick about.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> A great place to study and reflect on beautiful Scotland. People are lovely and full of their history too. I back the bid.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It has the most stunning waterfront location and is surrounded by fabulous countryside. 10 minutes drive in any direction and you are somewhere gorgeous, and yet you're only an hour away from Edinburgh.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Camperdown park is a great area for the kids and for a lovely walk just as a couple. my favourite place to walk in dundee is right along riverside drive and along to city quay it is a beautiful walk seeing both the tay road bridge and the tay rail bridge in the evening all lit up. the caird hall is fantastic the square outside is a lovely setting for a cuppy at the cafe and just to relax in the square.

<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> Dundee Blues Bonanza and the huge amount of live music available every weekend in the city's pubs.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The annual 'Dundee Blues Bonanza' is a great event for meeting people from all over the UK and Europe. Lots of bands, large and small, play in cafes and bars all over the City and also do music workshops, for young and old!! It's the biggest 'free' Blues Bonanza in Europe and this year is it's19th anniversary!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> very friendly, diverse city, huge opportunities for amateur musicians.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The University's Saturday Evening Lecture Series - where town and gown meet, with no pretensions!

<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> Dundee a place with a great history and an even better future.

The city has invested heavily in arts and culture - the people deserve to be City of Culture 2017

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I'm not a Dundonian I'm from over the bridge in Fife but I've visited Dundee many many times since I was a child. It was always where we chose to go 'on a proper shopping day out'. Over the years I've seen so many changes to this wonderful place. I loved it when I was a kid but I remember it looking quite dated, its now having an overhaul and being sympathetic to some important features unique to the city, it really is starting to look the part. Dundee definately deserves its place as a city of culture.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The annual Dundee Jazz & Blues festival is an amazing experience that really brings the whole community together and creates a fantastic feeling in the city. It also highlights the cities passion for creativity and is attracting fans from all over the world.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The council music and musical theatre provision. Fantastic.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> its not so much a 'secret' but the views from the law hill are stunning - i will never get tired of looking at those views that you get from the top.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Stores, cafes close too early. Later closings would encourage tourists to come and spend time more time in the city. As well after shows/concerts/theatre people would like a place to have coffee and/or light snacks.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Balgay Hill and the observatory.
The Law hill.
The riverside.
The public parks and good network of path/cycle routes.

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

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Living beside the ever-changing river and the views of the hills and sky - the diverse music, theatre, art, culture, much of it within walking distance - the architecture (check out the McManus Gallery!) - the friendliness - the history of the city as a great port - wonderful environment for children - people talking about interesting and important things - our local Arts Cafe with great food AND art every day - easy to access some of the most beautiful parts of Scotland - outdoor sports.....I've lived in some great places, and Dundee is up there with the best.

<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> Dundee has a friendly village feel with all the benfits of a big city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I'm always struck by how good it feels to see so much going on all around me. Just last night I was walking up the Queen's steps from the Greenmarket to the Perth Road amongst people just leaving Dundee Science Centre, excitedly discussing the Cafe Science talk they had just seen. They all soon merged with people gathered outside the DCA who were themselves indistinguishable from the theatre goers all heading towards the Rep to begin their evening's entertainment. Great to see.

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