If you ever find yourself in Chicago, you will find that in addition to our city-wide pride in the Chicago Blackhawks and our unwavering rivalry between the Cubs and the White Sox, we enjoy the claim-to-fame that we are home to some of the most prominent movies of the 1980s, including the beloved classic, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
John Hughes identifies the timeless bravado of teenage years, capturing the angst and excitement of adolescence that continues on well past the 1980s. Any 80s movie lover can recognize the significance of Hughes’ legacy, especially as "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
For the past two summers, my mother and I have taken the time to travel throughout the Chicagoland area to hit the Hughes hot-spots, and from one honorary "Breakfast Club" member to another, I encourage you to do the same.
The Breakfast Club:
Starting at what was formerly known as Maine North High School in Des Plaines, you can visit a prominent film site of The Breakfast Club. Townhouses have taken over the field where John Bender iconically pumped his fist in the air in the last scene and the school itself is now owned by the State of Illinois, but if you listen carefully, you can almost hear Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” playing in the distance.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off:
Driving over to Glenbrook North High School in Glenview, you can stand where Ed Rooney stood watching as Sloane ran into the embrace of the cunning and ever-so-righteous dude, Ferris Bueller.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off:
Heading into Highland Park, you don’t want to miss the site where Cameron Frye initiated the demise of his father’s 1961 Ferrari. I encourage you to proceed with caution, however, because the first time my mom and I visited, we may or may not have gotten scolded by the owner of the home who, in his own words, “didn’t even like Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Naturally, we drove away yelling a well-deserved “Safe Ferris” out the window.
Home Alone:
The next stop on your Hughes escapade is in Winnetka, where Kevin McCallister’s boyhood home sold for the low, low price of $1.585 million in 2012. If you squint your eyes, you may be able to see Michael Jordan’s cardboard cutout dancing in the window.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off:
Take a quick break at the Glencoe Beach where Cameron catatonically processes the true significance of the mileage he put on his father’s precious Ferrari. The view of Lake Michigan is truly beautiful.
Sixteen Candles:
Step into Samantha Baker’s shoes as she walks out of the Glencoe Union Church and sees Jake Ryan leaning ever-so-cooly up against his ultra-rad ride. Now I can’t promise Jake Ryan will be waiting for you when you visit, but the thought of him alone may be swoon-worthy enough.
Sixteen Candles:
Before heading into the city for some last-minute Ferris Bueller stops, be sure to make your way over to Samantha Baker’s home where Samantha’s sixteenth birthday is utterly and totally forgotten, and a personal favorite, where Long Duk Dong confesses the location of Grandpa’s automobile (It’s in a big lake, FYI).
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off:
End your day in the heart of the city, whether it be leaning up against the glass of the Sear’s Tower, eternally staring at Seurat’s La Grande Jette at the Art Institute, or catching a Cub’s game at Wrigley Field, where you can yell “hey batta, batta, batta, swing batta” until you (or the people around you) can’t take it anymore.
Safe travels, ya filthy animals.
