large "pop-up"

hi,

here's what I want to do:

I have a map with several locations indicated with a pin circle. Clicking a location pin circle animates a large "pop-up" that covers everything (I have a "close button" that removes the pop-up). The pop-up is a symbol.

It all works ONLY when the pin circles are in a layer ABOVE the pop-ups >>> which is not good (cirles need to be covered when the pop-up is activated)

When I put the pop-up in a layer UNDER the pin circles, it all works, but obviously the pin circles are visible and that's not good...

Can anyone help me with this??

thanks, j