-It's said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

-♪ Steppin' out ♪ -Welcome to "Joseph Rosendo's Steppin' Out."

Today, we're steppin' out in Topanga, California, my hometown, where I'm celebrating Thanksgiving and the ties that bind us in communities everywhere.

[ Cheers and applause ] -♪ Steppin' out ♪ -"Joseph Rosendo's Steppin' Out" is made possible by... -Since 1975, we've inspired adults to learn and travel in the United States and in more than 100 countries.

From exploring our national parks to learning about art and culture in Italy, we've introduced adults to places, ideas, and friends.

We are Road Scholar.

We make the world our classroom.

♪♪ -There's a reason people call Myrtle Beach "The Beach."

There are 60 miles of wide sandy beaches along South Carolina's Grand Strand Coast.

This vacation destination has golf courses, attractions, food, wine, and Southern sun.

♪♪ ♪♪ -I'm on the road so much that I'm often not home for the holidays.

But this year I'm having Thanksgiving with my cats and my friends in my home in Topanga, California.

Wait.

Mr. -- Mr. Carlos.

It's important for me to take the time to remember what I'm thankful for, not just what I need for the Thanksgiving feast.

♪♪ You know, I've always tried to appreciate the finer things in life, even though they may be something that is rather normal or part of the everyday life.

[ Coffee grinder whirring ] I've traveled around the world.

A lot of cultures, coffee's a very big, important drink.

I think tea is the number-one drink after water, and then after tea it's got to be coffee.

"Café con leche" is exactly translated as "coffee with milk."

But Cuban coffee is a little different.

You bring the milk to almost a boil.

And what would happen is when my mother turned off the heat and it cooled down, a skin would form on the top layer of the coffee, and we called it nata.

And so my brother and my sisters and I, we'd all fight for who was going to get the nata.

Now, the coffee part we got introduced to very early 'cause my parents would give me a big glass of warm milk, that same milk that they were using for their coffee, and they'd put a little bit of coffee in it.

And that's where I got a taste for it.

And then traveling as a travel writer and going to all these countries that specialize in coffees then became, like, a gourmet experience.

♪♪ And you don't really have a real café con leche unless there's a pinch of salt in it.

So that was always a very important part of Cuban culture.

It's wonderful to come home to Topanga from my worldwide travels.

I always bring back more than souvenirs.

I return inspired and with an insight, a practice, or an answer that I can apply here.

In Rwanda, Africa, I learned that, as a way to heal the divisions that caused the 1994 genocide, on the last Saturday of every month, every citizen performs Umuganda.

-This is a special day in Rwanda.

We are doing what we call Umuganda.

-Umuganda.

-And Umuganda means "community work."

-Community work.

-Yes.

-This is throughout all of Rwanda.

-Throughout our country.

-What kind of things would people do?

-Each area will pick something of local importance.

It's going to be cleaning the street, helping vulnerable people.

And the activity today is plant trees at the bank river.

-Let's get to work.

The Topanga Canyon Boulevard Trash Warriors, our volunteer group that has cleaned our main street, Highway 27, for 12 years.

was inspired by Umuganda.

Okay, well, Roger Pugliese -- Pugliese and I, we started the Trash Warriors.

Why did you want to go and clean the boulevard?

-Because we care about Topanga.

We love Topanga.

-I used to clean from my house to Mimosa 'cause I walked every morning.

-Yeah.

-I did that for 10 years.

We started doing it, the two of us.

And then over the course of the last 12 years, we've built it up to -- it's been as many as 15 people here.

We meet at the post office every Sunday morning, and before we clean the road, we gas up at Café Mimosa.

How long you been here, Claire?

-The coffee shop's been here for 30 years.

-The coffee shop's been here for 30 years.

Things change all the time here in Topanga.

Our job is to keep it clean on Sunday mornings.

-Yeah.

Thank you for that.

[ Applause ] -These guys are the angels of Topanga for doing that job, by the way.

It's all very special, and we should all do more to help.

-Yeah.

-Very nice of you to say that.

Thank you very much.

♪♪ When you take the trash off of the land, you can almost feel it give out a sigh of relief.

You can almost hear the thank-you.

So there's a lot of satisfaction we get from doing what we do.

♪♪ All sorts of different people live here.

And you -- I think you represent to me one of the kinds of people who used to live here at the beginning.

You came for the nature, and you do what you can to live here.

You get by the best way you can.

-Yeah.

-So, what's it like living in a van in Topanga?

-I used to be a corporate guy.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Hardcore.

I didn't take a vacation for the first 10 years of my life.

And it just became soulless for me.

And I had a -- In Hebrew, we called it a teshuvah.

-Uh-huh.

-We turn.

[ Voice breaking ] So I'm observant now.

And I had just such -- such a hunger for something real-life.

And for me, it was going to nature.

And so, for me, Topanga is this place that represents a love for nature, it represented a love for freedom, and it represented walking around barefoot, being connected with the earth... -Right.

-...community.

This is probably the only community I've been in people wave their hands when they're driving down the road.

To me, that's special.

-Yeah.

-There's a warmth here, you know, that means a lot to me.

It's one of the reasons why I'm a little -- I mean, I have a thing with tears in the spiritual context of life.

-That's great.

That's great.

-So, it moves me, and I care a lot about the people.

-Oh, me too.

-I care a lot about you.

-Me too.

Me too.

-Yeah.

-Well, brother, wonderful, brother.

-Yeah.

-Lovely talking to you again.

-Yeah, you too.

-Thank you for being here.

-Great to see you always.

-Thank you for helping us keep Topanga, Topanga.

-Oh, man.

Thank you.

Love you, Joe.

Lucy Yaney and her Inn of the Seventh Ray has been a center of healthy fine dining and a supporter of Topanga community efforts for five decades.

Lucy, you've been supporting the Topanga Canyon Trash Warriors for a long time.

What motivated you to do that?

It's so great you have us over for breakfast.

-Well, I'm one of these people that sees what is out of order.

This canyon is so beautiful.

And you drive up it, and then there's this one little blatch of white paper and another blatch of a tin can.

And now it destroys the beauty of divine order.

So I was so appreciative of this group that gets up at 7:00 in the morning.

-And putting things in order for you -- is that why you started the restaurant so many years ago?

How long has it been now?

-48 years?

-48 years ago.

Was it you saw something that was out of order and you wanted to make it that way?

-Well, it was a junkyard, so it was really out of order.

-You're the perfect person to have this restaurant in this perfect spot.

Not only did you make it whole again, it fits into the spirit of Topanga.

We just wanted to model what was a lifestyle of eating and living, using nature and music and foods to kind of raise the vibrational level of people.

-If there was one other thing that you would say you're grateful for, what would that be?

-One night we were $100 from going down and bailing ourselves out of the foreclosure.

And all the waiters were putting all the money, the tips and everything.

We were $100 short.

And the last customer here went up to the bookstore and bought something that was $100.

That's how close we've come so many times.

I mean, that story has repeated itself.

When I started looking at all of these things, I said, "Somehow we're always going to find a way, and they're not going to let us go down."

-The Topanga gods have certainly watched over you because it's a fair exchange.

You've given so much to Topanga and to the community of Topanga.

And of course Topanga would give back to you.

-Yes.

-Topanga has always accepted those whose beliefs and perspective on life others shun.

During the Red Scare and the House on Un-American Activities Committee hearings, Topanga embraced blacklisted actor Will Geer's family and friends.

-Well, in the '50s, Papa was blacklisted, and my mother knew ahead of time -- because she came from a very progressive background -- "we better find him a place in the country where he can do plants and we can make a living selling plants."

-How did the theater come out of that?

-The theater came out of that because you can't keep an old horse down and Papa was an actor.

He was a tremendous actor, had been on Broadway and everything, you know, but he was kicked out of the movies.

-Sure.

You are such an integral part of the Topanga scene and so important to the community of Topanga.

What do you think Topanga has given you as a family?

-Topanga is an extraordinary place.

It healed us from that terrible time and gave us a place to be ourselves and do our artistry.

You know, a lot of blacklisted actors, it was a place for them to perform because they had no place to be.

-Right.

-Writers can change their names.

-Right.

-Actors, all they've got is their full form.

-Exactly.

And actors need to act.

That's what you do now with the classes and the plays.

-Yes.

We're very interested in passing on the deep technical, classical things that keep an actor wholesome throughout all.

-For in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, whirlwind of passion, you must acquire a temperance that will give it smoothness.

O, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious, periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are not incapable of anything but dumbshows and noise.

I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant.

It out-herods Herod.

Pray you, avoid it.

-Excellent.

-That was so much fun.

I haven't done that since I was 17 years old.

-Well, you got to do more of it then.

You got to come take my class.

-Yeah, I need to take your class.

How many classes do you have here?

-We have classes for adults all year round.

-That's fabulous.

-Yeah.

And teenagers and children.

There's a momentum at Theatricum Botanicum that seems unstoppable.

-We, as Topangans -- and particularly me -- are thankful and grateful to have the Theatricum Botanicum here and all the great work that all of you do and that the family has kept kept the dream alive.

What about Topanga?

What are you grateful for?

-I'm grateful for the people in Topanga because there's a philosophy here.

Even people that move in to Topanga recently, they pick it up real fast.

Well, thank you for being here.

-Thank you.

-And thank you for letting me on the stage again.

-Absolutely!

You got to come back and do more.

I was thinking, "We got to get this guy in a play."

[ Both laugh ] -Thank you.

One of the blessings on my Thanksgiving list is Topanga State Beach.

It's a wild, mile-long strand where I can exercise.

Another thing I'm thankful for -- good health.

[ Laughs ] What a glorious day.

And for this to be so close to the second largest city in the country and a huge population center and for you to still be able to find the peace and tranquility, it makes me cry.

[ Laughs ] For joy.

No matter where you are in Topanga, nature is not far away.

Once a sprawling private ranch, Topanga State Park is now a jewel in California's crown that all enjoy.

I'm blessed that a link to more than 36 miles of trails is just steps from my front door.

These two are my favorite pine trees in Topanga.

They're in the state park.

And, oh, about 10 years ago, when there was a movement to remove all the pine and eucalyptus from Topanga because there were non-natives, although they had been here for 50, 60, 70 years and were given by the fire department, actually -- two people -- to keep from having the ground moved, and over 100 pine trees and eucalyptus were removed from Topanga, to my chagrin.

Fought hard to stop most of them and succeeded here and there.

But these are beautiful.

They're right by the house.

They're the most beautiful pine trees in Topanga.

Except for the two that are over my house.

♪♪ Now we're getting to a really nice part of the walk to Eagle Rock -- 'cause from here you can see Pacific Palisades, you can see the ocean, Santa Monica, you can see Topanga, and you can see the Valley from different views.

♪♪ ♪♪ [ Sighs ] It's a little sanctuary up here.

And seeing the beautiful view from here -- that's one of those things you just don't ever forget, no matter what happens.

It stays with you forever.

One of the first times I came up here to Topanga, I was showed this spot.

Topanga was my home long before I lived here.

It was love at first sight.

I was attracted to the bohemian lifestyle and the fact that it was a Mecca for artists, actors, and musicians.

The Mountain Mermaid is a venue for local events that celebrate Topanga's past and present.

Bill, the Mountain Mermaid has a long history here in Topanga.

-Yes.

It was built by two brothers, Samuel and Irving Goldman, named after one of their daughters.

It was called the Sylvia Park Country Club.

After that, Mickey Cohen came in here during the war.

-Oh!

-He had a casino in the basement.

-Aha.

-And then a guy named Phil Ewing made money from the day he opened.

It was a gay nightclub from 1955 to 1972.

-That was kind of daring.

-Yeah.

It was one of the only places in L.A. where guys could dance.

It was illegal back then.

And then he sold it to Mickey and Ann Nadel.

They opened the Mermaid Tavern here.

They wanted it to be an artist hangout.

It was very bohemian.

It lasted about five years.

And then they kind of let it go.

When I got here, it was a mess.

-When did you get here?

-1990.

-So, it's been all those things, and now it's a wonderful community venue.

So, tell me about Butterfly Day.

-It started nine years ago when we had put together a little thing here for the neighbors.

It was a big hit.

Last year, we had 1,500 people here.

-Wow.

-We have a music festival inside the mermaid in the great room, and around this pool we have environmental partners.

-So this is a yearly event now.

What are you thankful for?

-Really grateful to live here.

For me, the Mermaid -- it's all about beauty.

I'm an artist.

I live through my eyes, a painter.

I've been an illustrator and painter all my life.

And so this has been my creative outlet for the last few decades.

It's a real privilege to live at this very special place.

And it doesn't get any better in LA than Topanga, I don't think.

-Local shops have always specialized in unique, handcrafted goods.

Clothes, art, tile, ceramics, crystals, a haberdasher, and a candle workshop are just a few keeping the tradition alive at Topanga Center.

So, what made you decide that this is where you want to put your shop?

-It was like a combination of luck and Topanga magic.

This was the first shop I walk in the first time I was in Topanga.

-So, you do all kinds of hats.

You do very unique hats.

-Yeah, we do, like, top hats that got chopped.

-Yeah.

-And classic fedora.

-Yeah.

-Under brim.

You know, every person is unique, and so we like to embrace that uniqueness.

-Absolutely, and that's kind of like Topanga.

-Yeah.

-Topanga is very unique.

And it embraces uniqueness.

-That's the biggest gift, you know, the people that live here and bring their energy.

You know, they express themself, and we help them to do that.

And they help us to evolve and change.

-What are you most grateful about?

-I mean, I'm grateful for Topanga.

It's like a magic word, you know?

It's, like, unique.

People are amazing.

That's what makes Topanga special, the people and the energy that there is in Topanga that brings the same energy from the people that arrive.

-Well, the doctor is in.

-[ Laughing ] Yes.

-The doctor of candles.

-Yes.

Doctor is in and ready to play with some wax.

So, what we have here, we do a lot of candle-making classes.

We have fun.

This is one of the vessels, and we make five candles with three different waxes.

So, what we normally -- -So, do we melt this now?

-No.

So, this is just kind of acting as an ice cube for the cocktail.

We haven't put the cocktail in yet, which is the wax and the fragrance.

So, what I have here is the wax.

There we go.

Right there.

Perfect.

-That's good?

Okay.

[ Sniffs ] Oh, it smells great.

Made in Topanga.

Is that an important thing?

-It's everything when it comes to candles.

-You bring joy to people.

-I do.

I bring joy and light.

-Joy and light.

That must be a fun thing to do.

-It's not a bad life.

-In my travels, I've found if you're looking to tap into a destination's energetic DNA, the best place to do it is at a farmers' market.

My Topanga friend of 17 years, Curtis Caddell and I, make it a Saturday ritual to meet in nearby Calabasas.

-Hello.

How we doing today?

-Hey!

How you doing?

-Oh, pretty good.

-Okay, great.

You know what we're here for, right?

-The oysters, of course.

-We've been doing oyster night for a long time.

-Except for when he decides to go out of town.

-Yeah.

Or me.

[ Laughter ] -Yeah, you're not off the hook, either.

-Okay.

-How many today?

-We're gonna have a dozen today.

-Yeah, we'll have a dozen today.

-Okay.

-You got the good ones.

-So, these are the small Pacifics.

-You got all kinds of fish here normally.

-I know, right?

You always just get my oysters.

-Well, now, Curtis sometimes gets... -You know, he always asks for a little extra, too.

Watch out for him.

[ Laughter ] -You know, it's that lagniappe thing from Louisiana where they give -- -No, I gotta make sure that you get a couple extra in case one or two don't open right.

-During this Thanksgiving, what are you grateful about?

-I'm glad I have this job.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

-Thank you.

-Thank you, darling.

-I love you guys.

See you next week.

-Okay.

Bye-bye.

-What do you have for the holidays?

-We're gonna have flavored scones.

We got a churro scone.

We've got an espresso chocolate chunk.

We'll do an apple cinnamon.

-So, this Thanksgiving, what are you grateful for?

-I'm grateful for community.

I'm grateful for community.

I'm grateful for you guys.

You guys are actually an inspiration for me as I get older, as I age.

-Uh-huh.

-I have a best friend, and I want to be spending time with him like I see you guys spending time every weekend.

So, community, togetherness.

You know, I didn't know you before I started coming -- I didn't know you, either, but now I do.

Now we're friends.

It's like, how about that?

-Community.

Love it.

-Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

-With my market bounty in hand, my Topanga Thanksgiving feast is ready.

All that's missing are my guests.

[ Doorbell rings ] -Hey, guys!

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Happy Thanksgiving!

-Okay, okay, so, favorite Thanksgiving dish.

What have you brought?

-Yeah.

Since I'm Italian, I'm not very good at the Thanksgiving dish.

I brought some French cheese.

-Ooh.

That'll be great.

-And Italian cheese.

-Okay, great.

And your husband.

[ Doorbell rings ] Oh!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Come on in!

Okay, so, let's see what special Thanksgiving -- Which is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

-My favorite pie.

-Favorite pie.

Pumpkin?

-Yep.

-Okay.

Well, that's everybody's favorite pie, isn't it?

That's perfect.

-Deviled eggs.

-Deviled eggs.

Of course.

Thank you.

-And what did we bring down here?

-Mac and cheese!

-Mac and cheese?

Oh, my, that's my favorite Thanksgiving dinner.

[ Doorbell rings ] Oh, Mike!

So, what is this, a Filipino dish?

This is a famous Filipino dish called an apple pie.

-Called an American apple pie.

-Yes.

[ Doorbell rings ] -Oh, Curtis!

How you doing?

-Hey!

♪ I got the food ♪ -Now, what's your favorite Thanksgiving dish here?

-It is called puttanesca.

-That sounds Italian.

We're having a theme here.

-I have a little Italian in me somewhere down the line.

[ Doorbell rings ] -Roger!

-Happy Thanksgiving!

-Happy Thanksgiving to you!

-And how are you today?

-I'm doing great.

-How are you doing?

-I'm doing great.

And this for you and the family.

-What do we have here?

-Well, we have some great salami.

-Uh-huh.

-And we have wonderful cheeses.

-Okay.

-To top it off -- -So we have another Italian -- This is becoming an Italian Thanksgiving.

We have a few Italians here.

-It's always Italian.

-Well, thank you guys for joining me for our Topanga Thanksgiving.

Let's take a second and just be -- what people are on Thanksgiving in the United States thankful and grateful.

So, I'm thankful and grateful to have you all here.

And thank you for participating in our celebration of Topanga and Thanksgiving.

-Cheers, guys!

-Cheers!

-Salute.

Cheers.

-Cheers, cheers, cheers.

-Chin-chin, everything.

-And thank you for all the people that brought all this wonderful food here.

-Thank you for coming.

-Thank you, Joseph.

-Beautifully done.

-Who made the gravy?

-Roasted apples.

-Sara Lee, I think.

[ Laughter ] -Everybody loves Sara Lee, right?

-[ Chuckling ] Yeah.

-Happy Thanksgiving, guys!

-Happy Thanksgiving!

-Happy Thanksgiving!

-[ Chuckles ] Well, thank you for joining me on my Topanga Thanksgiving show.

I first came to Topanga in 1970 to pass the hat and perform plays with my fellow UCLA actors at a bohemian festival.

It was the precursor for Topanga Days, which has been held for more than 50 years.

It was love at first sight, and I dreamed of living here.

Well, dreams do come true.

And in 2007, I moved here.

Hey, sweetie.

I made up for lost time.

Bonjour, Claire.

I joined the chamber and every community effort to keep Topanga, Topanga, a rural, natural California resource for all.

This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful and grateful to be able to celebrate this beautiful place and the people who live in it.

-Absolutely!

-I may not always be able to live here, but if I ever leave Topanga, my heart and soul will forever remain.

Until we meet again, this is Joseph Rosendo reminding you of the words of Mark Twain -- travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.

May your next adventure always be your best.

-"Joseph Rosendo's Steppin' Out" is made possible by... -Since 1975, we've inspired adults to learn and travel in the United States and in more than 100 countries.

From exploring our national parks to learning about art and culture in Italy, we've introduced adults to places, ideas, and friends.

We are Road Scholar.

We make the world our classroom.

♪♪ -There's a reason people call Myrtle Beach "The Beach."

There are 60 miles of wide sandy beaches along South Carolina's Grand Strand Coast.

This vacation destination has golf courses, attractions, food, wine, and Southern sun.

♪♪ -For a DVD of any of my "Steppin' Out" adventures, or my companion memoir and travel book, "Musings: The Short Happy Pursuit of Pleasure and Other Journeys," call 888-876-3399, order online at JosephRosendo.com, or e-mail me at TV@JosephRosendo.com.

♪♪ Now that we've stepped out in Topanga, California, together, learn more at JosephRosendo.com, where you can follow my worldwide adventures through my e-magazine, blog, podcast, and social media.

Stay in touch -- 888-876-3399, or e-mail me at TV@JosephRosendo.com.

-This is the way the world should be -- sharing and loving and eating good, every day like this.

-I am so thankful that I got to come out here this week and to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends.

-I'm thankful for these two boys, and I'm very glad that we're able to all be together for this Thanksgiving with the whole family and with Joseph Rosendo.

-Oh!

-I'm grateful for family... -Yeah!

-...being so close.

-You got family here today.

-Yeah.

That's for sure.

And good health.

-Good friends.

Good food.

Good God, let's eat.

♪♪ -♪ Steppin' out ♪