I am currently developing a new website utilizing ASP.NET MVC2. Much of what I want to do with the website (from a front-end standpoint) involves AJAX-y-type tasks.

Two examples:

1. I want to display forms, and switch between them via a drop-down menu (or through links) without having to go back and hit the server every single time.
2. I want the user to be able to select points on a Chart Control and have portions of the page refresh with the appropriate data depending on what he/she selects (partial page refresh).

In both these cases, I am able to accomplish what I wish to accomplish using the traditional web forms event handlers, etc. Unfortunately, the use of a ScriptManager violates the spirit of MVC. It seems as if MVC prevents the use of many of the controls that are available to ASP.NET.

So, my question is: how do I use AJAX and make AJAX calls without utilizing ScriptManager and the web forms method of utilizing event handlers?