Mariana Byrd

Mariana Byrd Broker, Partner (919) 699-0899 mbyrd@urbandurham.com

Mariana has made Durham her home since 2002.  She and her husband initially moved here because of Duke and planned to stay here for no more than 2-3 years, but ended up falling in love with Durham. Needless to say, after 8 1/2 years, they love it even more and it has been the perfect place to raise their two little girls.

What did you do before real estate? After graduating from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT with a BA in Biology, I worked at the Keck DNA Sequencing Lab at Yale University.

What do you do outside of work? I like to challenge myself and do things that I have never done before.  I recently took up yoga, specifically Bikram Yoga (hot yoga) at Golden Belt and love it.  It's a wonderfully intense workout.  I try to still get some running in since I really enjoy running with the wonderful people I've met through Bull City Running Co (my favorite running store!).  In the past two years I've run a half marathon, competed in the Krispy Kreme Challenge (consuming more donuts than one person should have to consume in one sitting!), and received my black belt in Tae Kwon Do from Champion Tae Kwon Do in Durham.  

When I am not training or trying out something new, I enjoy playing with my husband and daughters and going on a hike, to the park, on bike rides on the American Tobacco Trail, and taking adventures on the Bull City Connector.  And, of course, I love trying out new restaurants around town, especially those with great desserts!

What organizations get your time and money? Movember, Habitat for Humanity, Montessori Children's House of Durham, and Seeds.

How would you spend $100 in Durham? Probably all on food! $5 for an empanada from Scratch, $5 for fruit tart (or anything else for that matter) from Guglhupf Bakery, $10 for authentic tacos, zincronizada, or menudo and an "agua fresca" at La Vaquita, $20 for an entree and delicious margarita (the best in town!) from Tonalis (on Shannon Rd near the Post Office), $4 for a creamy lime, mango chili, or chocolate brownie popsicle at Locopops, $5 for a milkshake from Ox & Rabbit, $5 for natural bar soap from the Farmer's Market, $6.50 for a burger and fries from the Only Burger Truck, $3 for a gordita at Chubby's, $25 for an appetizer at Revolution (I could spend all $100 there but I'm trying to be good!), and $15 for note cards and a delicious chocolate from The Merry Martini.

Where was your most recent restaurant visit? Watts Grocery.

What book are you currently reading? Under the Banner of Heaven.