Hotel Lloyd and Cultural Embassy

My dear friend Jennifer Merin, one of the coolest women I know, sends this Amsterdam tip:

Interesting new hotel: Hotel Lloyd and Cultural Embassy, with one-to-four star rooms at different price points--so starving artists can connect with rich art patrons. It's located in A'dam's hot new residential district--on manmade islands formerly used for industrial and commercial doings. The historic building was constructed turn of last century for use as stop-over lodging for Eastern Europeans immigrating to South America, and has been restored and reconfigured by Dutch cutting-edge architects. The furnishings are by top Dutch interior designers; there are beds that sleep eight people and even chartreuse bathrooms.

The Cultural Embassy is a large family room where hotel guests can exhibit their work, give recitals or other performances. Plus, the concierge will connect guests with some 40 cultural institutions and hundreds of individual artists around Amsterdam. The progressive restaurant features mostly fried food--served "fast" as small courses (take-away), or "slow" as fine dining (white linen, candlelight). Founder Suzanne Oxenaar is a Dutch arts curator of some note.