Link_to_remote with pop-up or link_to with form.serialize?

I need to create a new record based on form values prior to a pop-up
window opening. The way I see to do that is form.serialize, but it
looks like that’s only possible with link_to_remote and similar.

Can I either do a link_to_remote AND have it open the same pop-up window
that link_to is opening for me or can I add something to link_to so that
I can send along the form variables?