The title is actually misleading, because what was witnessed yesterday evening at the Apple Fifth Avenue store was the opposite of calm. With iPad hype in the air and the spring weather kicking in, the midtown suits and the tourists are streaming down into the glass cube like it’s a Christmas Eve rush.

Still, compared to what is expected on Saturday morning for the iPad WiFi’s actual release, this scene is manageable. Not to mention that the bulk of the tourists usually stay no longer than it takes them to ride the glass elevator up and down and snap a few photos.

At street level on the sidewalk, the crowd control stanchions had already arrived, as had a few broadcasting vans, probably getting in their stock shots of the Apple store and crowds before crunch time. Be sure to keep your eyes on the Twisted Lifestyle as we’ll be bringing you some photos and a story after the release.

The Apple iPad will be available in all 221 US Apple retail stores and most Best Buy stores from tomorrow Saturday, April 3, beginning at 9 am. Starting at just $499, iPad lets users browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds, thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook, and delivers up to 10 hours of battery life.

iPad connects users with their apps and content in a far more intimate and fun way than ever before, said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. We can’t wait for users to get their hands and fingers on it this weekend.

Apple retail stores will offer a free Personal Setup service to every customer who buys an iPad at the store, helping them customize their new iPad by setting up their email, loading their favorite apps from the App Store, and more. Also beginning Saturday morning, all US Apple retail stores will host special iPad workshops to help customers learn more about this magical new product.

iPad will be available in Wi-Fi models on April 3 in the US for a suggested retail price of $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, and $699 for 64GB. The Wi-Fi + 3G models will be available in late April for a suggested retail price of $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores, most Best Buy stores, select Apple Authorized Resellers and campus bookstores. The iBooks app for iPad including Apple’s iBookstore will be available as a free download from the App Store in the US on April 3.