Daffy’s strange but irresistable Apartment contest

Discount clothing retailer Daffy's has launched a very odd but compelling contest that probably only makes sense if you live in New York.  Called simply "The Apartment," it's a video contest where contestants have to show up at selected Daffy's stores and explain into a webcam why they deserve to "win" a tricked out West Village apartment.  As someone who is about to run out his lease and find a new apartment for myself, I couldn't resist entering.

The contestants are challenged to make a short 30-second video explaining why they deserve to have this Manhattan apartment.  The finalists are selected by a panel chosen by Daffy's and the winner chosen by public vote on the Daffy's website after September 7.

And what a prize it is! The two-bedroom pad is fully furnished with hyper-angular modern furniture, sporting a killer view of Manhattan, and a swank location at 1 Seventh Avenue South (Google Map link.)

Here's the catch though: if you win, you still have to pay rent.  That's right, this apartment, which is valued at $7,000 a month normally (!!!), will be rented to you for only $700 a month for 10 months, starting October 1, 2009. (By the way, that's the exact date my lease ends! Just saying.)

And of course, after 10 months, you have to find another place to live.

With all that, looking at the images on the site fills me with a bad case of apartment envy.