IAll of the other buildings around our office downtown were gutted and prepared for lofts. Except for the once illustrious Alexandria Hotel across the street. Presidents, Dukes, heads of state, movie stars and other people that have had their names bandied about more than the average person all used to visit the Alexandria during its heyday ( http://www.parkives.com/famous_alexandria.html ).

“T oday, like many older hotels to the East of Pershing Square, the Alexandria is a voucher-hotel for mainly low-income tenants.”

After the decline it was filled with addicts, the handicapped, the mentally handicapped, alcoholics, and mentally handicapped alcoholic addicts. And they wouldn't leave. Which was fine with us. We liked them. We didn't know any of them personally, but from field observations we were able to discern that the residents of the Alexandria were a very colorful lot. A conclusion that is further supported by the evidence they left lying around all over the place. The fossil remains, if you will.

Below is an ongoing catalog of material remains found in and around the 5 th and Spring area of downtown Los Angeles , a place once called The Nickel.

Exhibit 1A: “7/7/07”

This was found taped to a lamp pole outside the Spring Arts Tower . Summary: Jesus will return to Echo Park on July 7, 2007. “He said that it will be 7-7-2007 at 8pm Echo Park at Red Bridge like blood of Jesus with a rainbow and 1,000 doves.” We now know that this is not true.

Exhibit 2A: “Put Guaze on Vest (2-18-06)

The back of a spiral bound pad of paper was found under a table at Charlie O's bar in the Alexandria . Crack and/or meth amphetamines were surely employed in the creation of this document which, we assume, catalogs the inside of one of the Alexandria 's apartments. Please note the variety of toupes.