Union-Bulletin

The octopus has a new face.

Walla Walla toy store Inland Octopus has experienced a makeover at its downtown building at 7 E. Main St.

Local artist Aaron Randall has created a new mural for the front of the building. The bold colors depict a purple octopus peeking over the a castle wall with a rainbow overhead.

Randall's work may be familiar to theatergoers. He's known for his artistry on sets for local productions.

The new mural makes a splashing statement for the independent toy store owned by Bob Catsiff and relocated from its previous Main Street address farther east last April. A brief video interview with Catsiff can be seen at: ubne.ws/dfVBn2 .

Hours of operation are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. seven days a week. For more details call 526-0115 or email: email@inlandoctopus.com .

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After a quiet opening late last week, the owner of CrossRoads Steakhouse is spreading the news about the restaurant's downtown opening.

CrossRoads Steakhouse at the Dacres is open Tuesday through Saturday with dining room hours 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m., owner Kim Kelly-Frank announced in an e-mail. The lounge is open 11 a.m.-closing. The business is closed Sundays and Mondays, though the hours of operation could expand if there's enough interest from consumers.

Kelly-Frank said the full menu is available in the lounge and dining room. Dinner is also available at lunch. Those who want to drop by when the dining room is closed between 2 and 5 p.m. can sit in the lounge area for food and drinks.

CrossRoads will continue to offer the same menu known to customers of its former location at Veterans Memorial Golf Course. Lunch specials and a weekly pasta and seafood special will also be highlighted. Happy Hour drinks and appetizer specials will be available daily 3-6 p.m.

Reservations are welcome but not required. A grand opening in the new space, the former home of 26brix, will take place toward the end of the month. For more details, call 522-1200.

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Andrae Bopp's mobile kitchen is hitting the gas for its debut this week.

Andrae's Kitchen -- known as "AK's" -- will park at the old terminal building at the Walla Walla Regional Airport complex and serve up his curbside cuisine with fresh local ingredients four days a week there.

AK's will operate 11 a.m. to roughly 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at the airport location. On the weekends, Bopp will circulate his 153-square-foot custom kitchen among a variety of winery locations. He spreads the word on his whereabouts via social networking. This Saturday he'll keep the same hours at the Dusted Valley Vintners tasting room. Sunday he'll be at Woodward Canyon.

To follow along, check out Andrae's Kitchen on Facebook, or follow on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/AndraesKitchen .