“30 Under 30: The New Chicago” is a look at people from all backgrounds and professions. From entrepreneurs to artists, performers to priests and athletes to scientists, the list displays the remarkable and eclectic talents of the rising stars in Chicago. Peruse at will.

Although all of our featured 30 maintain varied careers and objectives, they all shared similar advice and motivations: passion.

We were going to include the staff of sixosix as a whole, of course, but thought that would be shameless self-promotion.

While it certainly took some time to collect all 30 of these amazing stories, it made it even clearer that it truly is the people that make this city worth living in. Keep an eye on these 30 talents, and check out their additional information. Make the right connections and you may find yourself on our next list.

Let's be honest: perusing a review of four-star restaurant Trio is like reading a foreign novel. Casual references to “demitasse of hot lamb consommé” and “puddle of curry emulsion” jump off the page as a culinary departure from more standard fare like tuna melts and cheeseburgers. But for chef Grant Ashatz, a 29-year-old graduate of New York 's prestigious Culinary Institute of America, French-infused fare is standard. According to an interview in the Tribune , he believes “there's a food revolution under way around the world” and he wants to be part of it. The Evanston restaurant, which owner Henry Adaniya redesigned from its Asian-inspired décor to better fit Ashatz's French background, now serves four- and eight-course dinners rather than a la carte items. But there is a cardinal rule of dining that can't be broken: “Whether the techniques used to produce it are new or old,” Achatz says, “there's one fundamental rule: If a dish does not taste good, it does not go into the dining room.”

More info: http://www.trio-restaurant.com/staff/chef/

While debates on homosexuality take place around the world, the smaller issues of the gay community are often overlooked. An actor with About Face Youth Theatre, a nationally-recognized troupe that examines the gay, lesbian and bisexual communities, Tony Alvarado-Rivera, 23, has built a reputation as an outspoken activist for gay issues related specifically to Latino communities. Alvarado-Rivera's recurring feature on outlineschicago.com, a publication of the Windy City Media Group, typically mixes Spanish with English while serving as an online diary of sorts where he discusses topics as far-ranging as growing into an adult relationship with his father to his first drag experience. In addition, he supports the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association, which has one of the highest community-based gay memberships in Illinois . The secret, he says, is to build bridges through knowledge and education: “ If we can build an intergenerational setting, there is so much change we can all make for the next generations to come.”

More info: http://www.outlineschicago.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=242

Since becoming a household name in 1995 after an accident with a Metra train that cut off half her leg, Rachel Barton has not missed a beat. She began violin studies at the age of three, making her professional debut four years later with the Chicago String Ensemble. By age ten she was appearing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. One might expect that a woman this devoted to classical might might not be any fun, but this couldn't be further from the truth. She has performed at Bulls halftime shows, and has even performed violin-arranged Metallica covers. Barton has received many awards, including Chicagoan of the Year from Chicago Magazine in 1996. She has also given back to the city that has supported her throughout the years, teaching young musicians at a number of different institutions around the city. Barton's latest album, violin concertos composed by Brahms and Joachim, was released last year on Cedille Records.

More info: http://www.rachelbarton.com/index.htm

While American soccer doesn't have the fan support the sport enjoys in Europe or elsewhere, there isn't a shortage of premier players. DaMarcus Beasley, a midfielder for the Major League Soccer squad Chicago Fire, has proven himself a world-class athlete. While the Fire suffered a loss to the San Jose Earthquakes in last year's MLS Cup, it didn't hurt Beasley's season, going on to score eight goals in both regular-season and tournament play. He focuses on his game with dogged determination, but at the same time understands how to keep perspective. When asked how he stays calm in the face of major national matches, Beasley responded, “It's all about business, just another game. I just played.” To further add to his already impressive list of achievements, Beasley scored the only goal in the United States' 1-0 win over Poland in an exhibition match March 31, 2004.

More info: http://www.chicago-fire.com/roster/player.asp?pCode=DBEA

Real estate isn't the easiest business. And while real-estate celebrity isn't easy to come by – here you should think of Chaz Walters' “Hot Property” campaign – it's hard work that propels you to the top in the market. Twenty-four-year-old Peter Brandel has obviously paid his industry dues, completing 16 residential transactions last year, a figure that becomes all the more intriguing given the recent economic downturn. Brandel uses the situation to his benefit, however. “While the economic climate is less than perfect, low interest rates and high rents make a person secure with their job seriously consider buying,” he says. “I find buyers through referrals.” His age brings a certain level of prestige to the job, as Brandel was even tapped as a source for a New York Times article on media trends in men his age. But when asked if there are any hidden perks to the job, Brandel is quick to reply. “I know the city well enough to correct cab drivers,” he says.

More info: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/29/technology/29guy.html?8dpc