Gold Rush
Ryan Lochte made Chicago his latest stop on his celebratory tour around the country.

Olympic sensation Ryan Lochte and teammate Conor Dwyer may have left their medals at home, but they still partied like champions on Tuesday night to celebrate Hennessy cognac’s latest ad campaign, themed “Wild Rabbit.” Fans and partygoers lined up outside of hip West Loop event space Venue One (1044 W. Randolph) hours before doors opened, eager for a chance to hang with the superstar athletes and hear live performances by Erykah Badu, Mayer Hawthorne and A$AP Rocky. The campaign is all about pushing your limits and driving for success, so we had to ask: What’s Lochte’s wild rabbit? “For me, it’s definitely about going for the gold,” he said. “That’s what keeps me going in practice and preparing in the next four years.” (His sights are already set on the 2016 games). Lochte and Dwyer graciously posed for photos with fans, and the live music kept partygoers entertained into the early-morning hours. — Katerina Bizios