As the Capitol continues to tie itself into knots, some things, thankfully, don’t change. This week, reality television’s hottest stars team up with the world’s most famous X-Man, there are some good reads to pursue and Friday brings another movie under the stars.

Call Him ‘Al the Pal’

Former Sen. Alan Dixon, D-Ill., who served two terms to cap off several decades in public service, is touring Washington with his new memoir, “The Gentleman from Illinois,” a rollicking re-telling of the senator’s favorite stories from over the years. Dixon will be at Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies (640 Massachusetts Ave. NW) at 5 p.m. Monday for a lecture and book signing. On Tuesday, Dixon heads to a Senate-side favorite, The Monocle (107 D St. NE) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to sign his book. Rumor has it Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., will attend with her father, Gene Callahan, who was an aide to Dixon back in the day.

Roll Call Book Club!

Pultizer Prize-winning historian Rick Atkinson comes over to CQ Roll Call HQ on Wednesday to discuss his latest book, “The Guns at Last Light: The War in Western Europe, 1944-1945,” the final volume of his Liberation Trilogy about World War II. The book, the culmination of 15 years of work, is a masterful telling of D-Day and the fighting that followed, resulting in the fall of the Third Reich and the end of the European side of fighting. Free, at 77 K St. NE, from 6 to 8 p.m. To register for the event, go here.

Ducks Meet Wolverine

Wednesday produces the moment we’ve all been waiting for, when we find out who has more star power: the Ducks or the Wolverine. “Duck Dynasty” stars Willie and Korie Robertson and Hugh Jackman, the man who plays the slicing, dicing Wolverine will be among the celebvocates at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW) for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute Angels in Adoption Gala. Oh, yeah. Some members of Congress will attend, too. The Robertson folks do know the fine art of listening to nonsense, so they should be good when members come to chat them up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdj57V6HNQI

They probably shouldn’t get too close to Wolverine, though. He doesn’t have much patience for their type.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKwQ8FTmlLM

What Cooking’s All About

Union Market’s DC Drive-In continues its fall series on Friday with “Julie & Julia,” Nora Ephron’s adaptation of Julie Powell’s attempt to follow in Julia Child’s cookbook chef-steps. Meryl Streep plays Child with glee, and Amy Adams portrays Powell. Union Market’s shops are the perfect place to stock up after the cooking scenes make you hungry. To get in the mood, check out PBS Digital Studio’s “Julia Child Remixed” and see if you don’t laugh. Bon appetit! Free, at 1309 Fifth St. NE, gates open at 6 p.m., movie starts at 8 p.m.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80ZrUI7RNfI