:: We Dundee

We Back Dundee as a City of Culture

2791

PEOPLE AND GROWING

My husband is from Dundee. His pride in the city is so obvious whenever he talks of it. His passion when he talks about the music and history of the place (from Billy Mackenzie to to Cromwell’s troops sacking the town in 1651!) makes me smile. A working class town that has always housed artists and dreamers and punched so far above it’s weight when it comes to creativity.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Getting 300+ people routinely turning up to the University Saturday Evening Lectures. Topics range wide from Leonardo da Vinci to Cecil Beeton, Climbing Everest to Child Abuse. This wouldn't happen in London, nor (dare I say) Edinburgh!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> West Fest on Magdalen Green. A great day for everyone. We were raising funds for the upgrade of Roseangle Play-Park and were surprised and delighted by peoples' generosity and support.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The famous Dundee FC.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I loved Dundee ever since my girlfriend went there for Uni.
I love the city people are lovely and I love a good walk along the Tay.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Its stunning location and diversity

<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 Waterfront developing into such a beautiful and state of the art area from what was such an industrial start. It proves with investment and creative thinking a 'sow's ear can be made from a silk purse'!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Every time I walk by the McManus gallery staircase, I become 5 years old again - they are beautiful enough to belong in a fairy tale.

<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> there is so much to do within walking distance of the centre. There are the musems, the parks, the shopping, the variety of places to eat, the Discovery and, of course, the Beano characters in the town centre, to say nothing of the amazing old buildings where people lived and worked that show you Dundee's past. myfavourite place is Templeton Woods where you are always surprised by the wildlife and beauty of the woodland and the number of activities there.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I really like the idea that in theory, you could visit a second hand shop in Dundee and come across a sailor's Bitty Box from a former whaling ship or a souvenir from a Jute mill.. How exciting and completely possible.

<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 have lived out of this great City for 25 years, visit as often as I can, and now I'm heading home.

It's Dundee's time and I for one don't want to miss it. If any City deserves it's place in the world and recognition for it's contribution, for all manner of wonderful reasons, then here's my vote.

'Dundee is like a light across my heart' - Michael Marra.

This covers it for me.

Good luck Dundee. You deserve it.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee's never ending vibrancy, energy and beauty, the friendly people, the eclectic mix of born-and-bred Dundonians alongside the annual intake of students falling in love with the city. All the benefits of a large city condensed into a campus type environment, yet only a short drive to rural idyll. It's Fundee, it's Sunnydee, it's Dundee.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> My first time in Dundee was on late november last year, when Christmas lights turned ON for the first night and there were this fantastic atmosphere in downtown!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> From McGonagall to International Book Prize
From Science Sensation to Arts Centre
From Botanical Garden to Dens Park
From yacht racing to ancient warship
From Bell Rock Lighthouse to Balgay Observatory
From Desperate Dan to Captain Scott
From Championship Golf to Championship Curling
From aerobatics over the Tay to freezing new year swims across the Tay
From seals basking by the old bridge to skeins of geese above it
From a visionary Repertory Company to world beating Cancer Researchers
Are we A city of culture?
No, we are THE City of Culture

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> An English friend of mine lived in London and said he drank in his local for four years before the regulars spoke to him. He visited Dundee once, ended up in the Jimmy Shand of all places, and said he was sat at the bar ten minutes before being adopted as a native son. He loves Dundee and thinks the people are as friendly and welcoming as he's come across anywhere.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I stay in Tayport which is over the Tay and in Fife, but I have worked in the City of Dundee for nearly 30 years.
I love cycling in to work along the Tay taking in the beauty of Dundee. From the beach and Castle at Broughty Ferry, the changing skyline and heart of the City, the twin peaks of Balgay Hill and the Law Hill, the Discovery in its dock.
The new V&A will be a new wonder to look at along with the rest of the waterfront changes.
City of discovery and worthy of this accolade!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The Wighton Collection at Central Library is a wonderfully, rich and musically diverse hidden treasure which belongs to the city. This fantastic collection of books is priceless and provides the city with a magnificent musical resource.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I used to visit an auction centre nearby the University of Dundee, when I was a student there, back in 1996-1997. They auction all sort of things like jewellery, antique cameras, etc. I brought a couple of things there!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I don't think this is classed as a "hidden secret" but it's something I hope will be highlighted as part of Dundee's cultural activity - the annual blues bonanza held at the end of June each year - purported to be the biggest free blues festival in Europe, and hugely popular with the artists and audiences alike.

<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> There is some truly amazing and interesting architecture in the Nethergate and South Tay Street - one of my favourite places in Dundee. The glimpses of the Tay estuary through the buildings add an amazing dimension unlike any other in the UK.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> great bars springing up in the west end, fantastic cafes. the stunning views of the river and bridges that change daily

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love the cultural diversity of the city, the many different people from so many walks of life, dundee is fast emerging as a place to be whether you are into music, the arts, the outdoors, the city has a plethora of different things to offer everyone

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> That more people don't know and appreciate it.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The best thing about Dundee that you will never find anywhere else in Europe is our football, the closest grounds in Europe and win, lose or draw, there will always be friendly rivalry (or banter) yes we will wind each other up, but fans can still drink in the same pubs before and after the match, our fans are disciplined, #fact - welcome to Dundee where equality is happy!

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

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Fantastic little city, great energy and richness especially in young artistic community, tremendous sense of history diversity and investment in the future

<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 amount of green spaces available. All on bus routes. For a city this size there are a lot of cultural things on offer as well as varied cost of housing to suit most budgets. Edinburgh and Glasgow are expensive but not tooo far away

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I love the different walks around the city that appeal to all level of walkers and interests. I particularly like the Dighty Trail and the Bridgefoot walk. The walks in and around the City Centre reveal the many past and present historical and cultural aspects of the City. I love Dundee... it's a wee gem.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The amazing changes which have come about over the last decade

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Junior Bike 2012 (&2006) organised and funded by Michelin Tyre. Supporting the young children of the city and encouraging them to be active as well as safe.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is a fabulously diverse city, with a vibrant arts scene, from great productions at the Rep to outstanding exhibits at DCA, and the newly refurbished McManus galleries. There's always something to entertain, challenge and excite.

<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> Its History

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Nothing surprises me...thrilled to find Dundee is finally getting the recognition it deserves. It's always been Glasgow or Edinburgh, then later Aberdeen, to get any accolades going, Am I biased? Of course a little bit, just a little, but if we are/were really familiar with Dundee's history being a city of culture isn't a revelation.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> As an 'honorary' Dundonian who has proudly worked here for nearly 20 years I feel sometimes that to the outside world the whole city is a hidden secret. From the beauty of the setting to the wealth of internationally sigificant heritage to the vibrancy of the cultural scene - all are waiting to be discovered. And when you add in the warm and welcoming people with their irrerevant sense of humour - a winning combination!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> This is my home town. It always has been since I was born here. I left in the 60's to go to London but returned in the 70's after I married & lived in London. I was desperate to leave Dundee when I was young but when I returned I really appreciated how much standards of living had improved, especially compared to London and the accesibility to the countyside wihout a queue of traffic.

<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> Rama Thai restaurant is wonderful as is Parlour Cafe and the city is vegetarian/vegan friendly compared to most, especially of this size.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> At 18 I came to Dundee to rule it out as a uni option. I quickly got lost, where (in the pouring rain) a woman went out of her way and escorted me to the nearest bus stop for Ninewells. That was 1986. I am from Edinburgh. Dundee just felt right, its people with their strange accents are uber-friendly, and I have been here ever since. Dundee is now home.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The wealth of great private and public golf courses, that are very well designed and challenging, including the links course at Carnoustie and the beautiful landscaping of Downfield Golf Club. International visits could purchase special passes during the year of culture to Dundee private and public clubs in order to play golf on them all - a passport - could be offered.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The architecture hidden in plain sight in the city centre!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The wealth of musical talent Dundee has to offer as well. The beautiful beach at Broughty Ferry. But most of all the friendliness and humour of the people.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> We have a contemporary arts centre, a reportary theatre company, Scottish dance Theatre, The Scottish School fo Contemporary Dance, Duncan of Jordanstone Art's School, a Concert Hall, and a centre of world class journalism and medical research......How much more cultured can you get!?!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The views of the estuary from the city, every time I see them, blow me away. Dundee is an area of outstanding natural beauty. The seals and dolphins don't hurt either (unless you are trying to windsail, in which case they can get in the way).

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Improvements in schemes

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