ALEX Pizzuti & Friends

Blend XL is a bar and dance venue at Reguliersdwarsstraat 44, on the street long known as Amsterdam's "gay street," one block back from the Flower Market. The premises were home to Bar ARC from 2002 until 2010, after which the space was reopened as Blend XL. It is described as the "big brother" of Bar Blend, which sits just down the same street, and it counts as one of the newer additions to the city's gay nightlife. The room is large for this part of town, at roughly 275 square meters, and is laid out as a spacious bar with tables. For bigger nights, especially during Amsterdam Dance Event week, the floor is cleared to create a proper dance floor. Street art and graffiti cover the walls, which gives the interior a rougher, more urban edge than you might expect from a cocktail bar in the city centre. The stated intention behind the venue was an open minded place with some allure, welcoming to all genders and sexualities, glittery yet sober, groovy yet glamorous. It leans gay oriented without limiting itself to that crowd, aiming at anyone who appreciates fashion, a bit of sophistication and a good party. Musically, the programme centres on house, with deep house and tech house turning up regularly, alongside disco, funk and soul. Listings for Amsterdam Dance Event have included club nights, daytime sessions, networking events, live performances and tribute nights, among them a tribute to DJ Romain. Blend XL has also been tied to the Gay Dance Event, the festival that grew up alongside ADE as its smaller sibling, and it hosted one of its Wednesday night parties. Outside festival periods it works as a late night bar, serving cocktails and drinks and running music until very late.