#view:
<%= link_to_remote '', :update => 'popUpContent', :url => pub, :html => { :id => pub.id, :title => pub.name, :class => 'pub-link' } %>
<div id="popUpContent"></div>

#css:
#popUpContent{ display:none; }

#javascript:
jQuery.noConflict();
jQuery(document).ready(function($){
     $('.pub-link').click(function(){
           $('#popUpContent').show();
     });
});

#controller:
def show
   @pub = Pub.find(params[:id])
   render :partial => 'pub', :locals => { :pub => @pub }
end