Nothing to do with Christmas, Santa, Chanukah or Hanukkah

shekillsmonsters2_joanmarcus-(2) — Silent night, secret life: See “She Kills Monsters.” Photo by Joan Marcus

Unseasonal activities to put on your plate

SHE KILLS MONSTERS Secret Santa’s got nothing on the juicy tidbits unearthed by average, unassuming Agnes. When she accesses the Dungeons & Dragons notebook of her recently deceased (and “totally weird”) sister Tilly, Agnes is plunged into a world of hostile fairies, randy ogres, action/adventure violence and pop culture references. “She Kills Monsters” seems like a rock solid antidote to the relentless onslaught of satire-free saccharine that must be endured from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. Playwright Qui Nguyen and director Robert Ross Parker (the team behind Vampire Cowboys) bring their distinguished track record of comic book theater triumphs to the proceedings — with capable assistance from The Flea Theater’s resident acting ensemble (The Bats). Geek Freak Bonus: Casey Jex Smith’s Dungeons & Dragons-inspired art exhibit “Doomslayers” will be on display in the lobby before the show.

Through Dec. 23; Tues.-Sat. at 7pm, Sat. & Sun. at 3pm. At The Flea Theater (41 White St., btw. Church & Broadway). For tickets ($25), call 212-352-3101 or visit theflea.org. Tues. shows are pay-what-you-can (one ticket per person; subject to availability at door only; Sat. matinees are $10). Visit vampirecowboys.com.

BOOK LAUNCH: “MURDER NEW YORK STYLE: FRESH SLICES” Don’t be fooled by the squeaky clean pedestrian malls and the national chain stores — our city has managed to retain a good amount of its notorious Gotham grit. Murder and intrigue abound. You just have to know where to look for it. A good place to start: in the pages of “Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices.” This anthology of 22 mysteries showcases work from the Sisters in Crime New York/Tri-State chapter (which promotes the professional development and advancement of women crime writers). Taken as a whole, they represent “that special combination of adaptability and assertiveness dished out more often than any pizza or street meat.” That’s a nice way of saying you’d better watch your back when you veer off the beaten path. Stories set in Downtown locations include “Taking the High Line” (an S&M encounter goes too far), “The Doorman Building” (a mother’s eye-opening visit to her son’s apartment near NYU) and “Remember You Will Die” (a dying mogul’s goodbye party at the Rubin Museum of Art). Meet many of the authors at the book launch party — which will feature readings and signings.

Thurs., Dec. 15, at 7pm. At Partners & Crime Mystery Booksellers (44 Greenwich Ave., near Charles St.). For more information about the anthology and its authors, visit murdernystyle.com. For info on the venue, crimepays.com.