Emily Zomoroudi
Contributing Photographer
On a beautifully hazy May 6 evening, UC Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) Taiwanese-American Student Association (TASA) hosted their 17th annual night market in Storke Plaza. TASA’s yearly night market is a festival celebration of Taiwanese and Asian culture as a whole with live shows, food, and games.
A large crowd showed up to celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) month and to watch invigorating Asian-inspired performances.
This year’s featured vendors at TASA’s night market included these campus clubs: Nikkei Student Union (NSU), UCSB Esports, Burmese Student Association (BURSA), Hong Kong Student Union (HKSA), Japanese Student Union (JSU), Chinese Student Union (CSU), Marginalized Genders in Gaming (MGG), Kapatirang Pilipino (KP), Iaorana Te Otea (ITO), UCSBreakin’, Seoul’d Out, Badminton Club, Chauncey, Gaucho Gaming, Taiwanese Student Association (TSA), and UCSB Kristos Campus Mission.
Featured performers included: Jomch, ITO, UCSBreakin’, imKENNETHY, Emma + Wallace, Ryl + Aaron + Luki, and SS805.
UCSBreakin’ is UCSB’s breakdancing club on campus and was one of several featured performers at TASA’s night market. As one of the first acts, their impressive dance moves set an energetic mood for the rest of the evening.
UCSB student Kenneth Yang, also known by his stage name as imKENNETHY, was another performer at the event. His introspective and soulful lyrics captivated the night market crowd.
TASA, which was the night market’s flagship organization, sold Taiwanese delicacies that evening. Their full menu included popular Taiwanese dishes such as lu rou fan, green onion pancake, fish ball skewers, fried sesame balls, and baozi.
BURSA sold $4 three-tiered stacks of kyawk kyaw, a coconut jelly dessert that is a Burmese specialty.
Aside from performing at the night market, ITO sold two delicious items that are popular in Hawaii: spam musubi and li hing mui candy.
Kapitarang Pilipino (KP) sold adobo, an iconic Filipino braised meat dish.
JSA boasted a wide variety of Japanese delicacies including yakisoba noodles, Ramune soda, Calpico (flavored milky soft drink), and cheesecake bars.
Marginalized Genders in Gaming (MGG) sold Japanese pop culture-themed sweet treats such as Pokemon cake balls and shortbread character cookies with icing.
