file.js

$.sammy(function() {

  this.helpers({
    showModal: function() {
      $('.modal').show('slow');
    },
    hideModal: function() {
      $('.modal').show('slow');
    }
  });
  
  this.before(function() {
    // always hide the modal if we're switching routes
    this.hideModal();
  })

  this.get('#/', function() {
    this.partial('main.template');
  });
  
  this.bind('show-modal', function() {
    // also do whatever else you want here
    this.showModal();
  });
  
  this.bind('run', function() {
    var context = this;
    // open modal button
    $('a[data-show-modal]').live('click', function() {
      context.trigger('show-modal');
    });
    
    // close button
    $('a[data-hide-modal]').live('click', function() {
      context.hideModal();
    });
  
  });

})