:: We Dundee

We Back Dundee as a City of Culture

2791

PEOPLE AND GROWING

I’ve come to this place to learn new skills and never planned to stay. That was about 8 years ago.

Ever since then this city has kept me fed, happy, working, learning, experiencing amazing new things, meeting great new people and not wanting to leave.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The forward thinking of the City Fathers in developing the waterfront.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The city seems to surprise other Scots who visit our city , who did not realise what a beautiful city we have. The location next to the river tay is very special.

<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> 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> I like that Dundee has culture without pretentiousness;
that we have bands who play big festivals but still play in local pubs, and world class classical musicians playing in community centres and day centres for older people; and that I can be entertained on the way home from seeing Scottish Dance Theatre by a homeless guy dancing joyfully in the aisle of the bus while his mate plays a mouth organ.

<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> I love the wonderful location on the Tay estuary. The views across the Tay from the city are tremendous as are the views from the Fife side. I also love the sheer Victorian quality of the city ---the large jute mansions , substantial public buildings and streets of tenements. The city has a vibrancy with DCA , the McManus galleries and the Rep. The new riverside project will add to this vibrancy.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Hidden Secrets- Doghouse, Legends, the scientific collections a Dundee Uni.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Travel from Dundee to Broughty Ferry on the road that follows the River Tay and see one of the most perfect views I have ever seen. This view has been captured by various local artists with some spectacular results.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The amazing view of the city as you walk over the bridge

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is the quintessence of quirkiness and that's why I love it. Independent bar Clarks on North Lindsay Street is my favourite place for a night out- a rare gem where people go to have a great time with friends and strangers alike, with good prices, excellent music and a genuinely friendly vibe.

<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> The beautiful views of the River Tay from Riverside Drive out towards the airport - especially at sunset!

The excitement in the city at the arrival of V&A and the changes at the waterfront - it's going to be amazing!! Can't wait till the Tayside House building is totally flattened.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Tin Roof studios and others like it are a little known asset to the city. It is an example of one of the many collectives to be found in Dundee which exist because like-minded people want to get together and share their interests.

<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> MENZIESHILL

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> There is a busker who frequents the Murraygate and High Street, who plays the harmonica better than anyone I've ever heard. He plays blues and the experience is even better when someone, a stranger, joins in to accompany on vocals, which happens quite often.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Only in my second year in Dundee, after going to the Fireworks display in Baxter Park, did me and my flatmate go for a wonder and found ourselves at the city quay. We had never known about it and were amazed, it was night time and looked amazing by moonlight. So we walked about and explored the ship near by....it's a lovely part of the city.

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

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Kage Nightclub - dundee's friendliest nightclub

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The mix of old and new, the energy of the place, the huge student population, there are so many hidden surprises here!

<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> I moved here for University in the summer, the friendliness of the locals and the incredible architecture has surprised me the most. Dundee boasts the most incredible scenery of any city in the UK.

<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> Dundee has a buzz about - new architecture resulting in amazing buildings that the world should share

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The airport is a treat - 5 minutes from check in to take off - and that's without a private jet.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The people, the history and the resiliance of the city.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The warmth of the people, it's such a friendly place.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The Dundee Flower and Food Festival is a huge, fun event, attracting thousands of people to the Camperdown Country Park every September. New visitors and exhibitors are always amazed at the scale of what we do!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Some of the best assets of Dundee is it's small bars and cafe's. They are very inviting and have a great atmosphere. Due to Dundee's landscape there is many hills which give you tremendous views over the city centre and the Tay. Dundee also has many fabulous parks such as Baxter park. The best thing of all though is that everything is very central, so it's easy to get everywhere.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> my god-daughter, Jennifer Gavin, was born in Dundee!!!..she's a credit to her birthplace!!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The computer games culture in Dundee is excellent; it's easy to meet industry folks for a pint, particularly (Bert) Wednesdays and I enjoy fighting game action with Giant Attack Dundee as well, also in the pub.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dawson Park ~ where everyone can go thru out the day and do their thang ~ dog walkers, ,joggers, runners, schoolchildren doing sports with their school, dog walkers, keen gardeners, after school hanging out, dog walkers, sports clubs ~ a great green place with good facilitles for everyone

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Generator Projects! With out a doubt my favorite thing about Dundee, a really strong curatorial team who curate some of the best exhibitions of emerging artists anywhere in the UK. Then there are the Yuck'n'Yum guys with there AGK (Annual General Karaoke)

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The fact that it is geographically ideal. Within 90 minutes of the other three major cities, 20 minutes to the Angus Glens and 20 minutes to St. Andrews. Experience the city, experience the countryside, experience the coast, experience the golf, experience Dundee.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Dundee is Scotland's best kept secret. A cosmopolitan city rich in tradition, culture and enterprise. A contemporary place to live and work. An innovation city with a real sense of purpose and ambition to realize it.

<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> Walking down from Tin Roof, Generator, and the art school to have a pint and lively discussion at the Art Bar... perhaps stopping by DCA or the Rep later. Most of the cultural spots in Dundee are within easy walking distance of each other, creating a fantastic friendly atmosphere where you will probably bump into someone you know along the way.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> The City has lovely walks down at riverside.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> It is a dynamic, entrepreneurial and full of life City, a modern culture of possibilities and hope...

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> In the last few decades Dundee has added a cathedral, it's now a City an airport, added a road bridge across the Tay, a University or two, a V. & A. Museum, and retains its Medical Knowledge, its history (adding to its naval vessels). What more can anyone ask of a City?

I support Dundee's claim to be European City of Culture.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Its approachability;
-the folks that inhabit it have warm, open & unaffected persona's
-its the perfect size...big enough to have everything, small enough to be touchable
-its architecture spans the great & noble, the honest & solid, the shiny & new, all softened by an accessible layer of lush green
-accessible yet edgy design & art scene
-beauty and serene calm of its water is enjoyed by us all; its not exclusive nor for the priveledged...it reflects the persona of our city.
I am proud to witness Dundee begin to realise its full potential.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> A small city maybe but it has everything you need - culture (museums and theatre), shops, universities - and all on your doorstep. Plus it has Dundonians - some of the friendliest people one could ever hope to meet. I love it here!

<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> Don't let the reputation fool you. It's way out of date. Dundee was my home for 2011 and 2012 and I enjoyed every minute of it. A beautiful setting for a city looking out across the silvery Tay. I met many good people and the town inspired me to be successful. A part of me will always be from Dundee.

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Friendly people, diversity and surrounding beauty.

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

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> Beautiful situation and Dundee Contemporary Arts - fantastic venue, fantastic atmosphere, amazing works of art, and workshops. Lucky Dundee!

<b>Q) What surprises you about the city?</b><br><hr><b>A)</b> I discovered my love of independent cinema at the DCA whilst a student in the city. I had been eating dinner with friends and stumbled upon the small cinema in the building. That night opened my eyes to a wealth of thoughtful, original films - British and international - and I have since studied evening film courses and joined film clubs. All thanks to a fun night at the DCA!

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