"something about the way jqModal requires you to add a class to the link bugs me. Or maybe I am recalling it incorrectly"
You don't *have* to for instance, this would would just fine :-) <a id="ThisTrigger">Open Window</a> <div id="ThisModal" style="display: none;"> .... Modal Window Markup ... </div> $(document).ready(function() { $("#ThisModal").jqm(); $("#ThisTrigger").click(function() { $("#ThisModal").jqmShow(); return false; }); });