Flea Market Eats

By CHARLES FERRUZZA

Until recently, if I had made plans to roll out of bed early on a Saturday morning to make it to the amazing Third World Bazaar known as Nate’s Swap Shop at the old 63rd Street Drive-In (8200 E. 63rd Street), I typically went out for a 6 a.m. breakfast so I could get to Nate’s no later than 8 in the morning.

This busy swap meet – it costs $1 to get in as a buyer – is at its most tolerable in the cooler dawn hours; by noon, this scene can feel like a hot and raucous Tijuana street fair.