There’s a new cafe in town. What’s it like? Well, you’ll just have to find out for yourself. But tonight at 8 p.m. the MoonCookie Cafe is hosting Peter Ostroushko, former music director for Prairie Home Companion.

Ostroushko plays fiddle, guitar, mandolin and explores his Ukrainian heritage in a strange mix of music, including Scandinavian schottiches, Irish hornpipes, jazz, bluegrass, swing and new age.

This is a mix of music that he calls “Slur Duz.” Apparently his mom used to say this when she meant “off his rocker,” or “over the edge.” In other words, like all good moms, she thought her son was nuts.

Ostroushko will be playing at the new coffeehouse called the MoonCookie Cafe. It’s located at 1015 N. Hyland, and it is sponsored by the Ames Unitarian Universalists.

If you’re wondering how they came up with the name, they let the Fellowship’s teenagers decide on it. According to Karen VanDeusen, the cafe’s coordinator, they came up with some pretty strange names before they settled on “MoonCookie Cafe.”

Don’t worry, though — no-one’s going to try to convert you if you show up. It’s a coffee house — not a church. The music isn’t religious. It’s just supposed to be good fun.

“It’s a new venue,” VanDeusen said. “The artists who have played there say it’s one of the best venues they’ve played. People say it’s a great place to play because we get a better show from the performers because they’re having a good time. They put more energy into the show.”

The MoonCookie Cafe makes it easy for everyone to have a good time and listen to good musicians. “It’s an all-ages, smoke-free, alcohol-free place for people to enjoy music,” VanDeusen said. “The acoustics there are wonderful.”

But if you want to find out what the cafe is like for yourself, tonight will be your last chance this spring. “This will be the last show for the season,” VanDeusen said. “Next fall we plan to have one show per month. They will be knock-your-socks-off performers. They will be mainly blues, folk, jazz and acoustic things.”

“They won’t be noisy. They will be music you can relax to,” VanDeusen said.

So if you want to find out what this new place is like, tickets are available for $8 at Peeple’s Music, Big Table Books and at the cafe door.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m.